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The budget proposals for 2020/21 will revitalise the council’s transformation programme which will ensure it can continue supporting its most vulnerable residents.

The proposals, which will future proof the council, show an increase of 3.99% of Council Tax which includes 2% for the adult social care precept, which is an overall increase of 79.5p per week.
                                                                                               
Councillor Andrew Johnson, leader of the council, says: “All councils are experiencing challenging financial positions and we are no different to the rest of the country. There are significant spending pressures in both adults and children’s services and we are working to reduce that gap between income and expenditure.

“Unlike many other councils, we have a low level of reserves which means that we have less time and potentially fewer options than others to bring our budget into balance.

“We want to transform the council, be innovative and forward thinking about how we provide services to our residents, and that means looking at how we provide services and if we can, deliver them differently.

“We are a low Council Tax authority and will be in the future; but one which firmly adopts the principle of the user pays, so our tax payers do not have to subsidise non-core council services for those who can afford it.

“We are continuing to invest in supporting our most vulnerable residents and addressing broader policy, such as climate resilience, which is now driving our response in areas such as parking.”                         

The proposals also include a number of efficiency savings which include reducing management and administrative posts, transforming youth and early year’s services to target the most vulnerable, adult care transformation that will improve services delivered to residents while using new technology to reduce costs, reducing the maximum discount for working age claimants from 91.5% to 80% in line with other councils, removing parking discounts for Advantage cards while maintaining all other benefits of the scheme, and making a small administrative charge for residents parking permits. These will all be discussed at scrutiny meetings before the proposals go to Full Council.

The budget papers will first be discussed at Communities Overview and Scrutiny meeting at Maidenhead Town Hall at 6.30pm on Tuesday 28 January as the council begins its process to get approval before Full Council on 25 February 2020.

FIRST:- A NEW SCAM !
 
A disabled woman went to park at the Leisure Pool Car Park in Windsor.  Two very polite young men came up and said there was now, a £1 charge to park.  When she offered the cash, they said it had to be done by card.  When she handed over a card, them men fiddled with a card reader, saying it didn’t work, did she have another card ?  She then gave them a second card and apparently the charge went through.  When she checked later £500 had been taken from each card.
Be aware there has been no change to disabled parking regulations.  These young men - though apparently well-mannered were scammers.
 
We have the same problem with Nottingham knockers, who do the same thing, lifting the card reader out of sight, in order to get a signal - then changing the amount to £500.
 
Please be on your guard.  DON’T LET IT BE YOU !
 
NEXT: SOME STANDARD COURIER FRAUD ATTEMPTS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY !
 
The phone call was allegedly from Romford Police.  Apparently someone with a similar name to his was fraudulently using his bank cards and had been withdrawing money from his bank account.  The victim was asked to pump in his card details, including the security number on the back and his PIN, on the phone keypad.  The victim became suspicious and put the phone down.  They tried again a few days later - again unsuccessful !
A call from an officer at Hammersmith Police Station. They had the victim’s nephew in custody, charged with fraudulent use of the victim’s bank cards.  The victim was suspicious and questioned the ‘Police Officer’, asking for the name and details of his nephew, which they were unable to give !  He then put the phone down.
 
NEXT: A STRANGE ON RECEIVED WHILE I WAS ON A/L IN DECEMBER:
 
The victim received a threatening call from a supposed purchaser of a car from him.  The purchaser was unhappy with the car and wanted a full refund.  He gave details for the refund and said if he didn’t get it with 7 days, he would come round to get it.
 
NEXT:  ANOTHER SCAM TELEPHONE CALL FROM PETER:
 
Hi
 
Here's another scam.
 
This has happened to me twice and most recently, last week.  I also know one or two other people that have received an automated message, claiming to be from Amazon.
The recorded message tells you that Amazon, will automatically renew your Amazon Prime account, at a cost of £39.99 from your account.
Press button 1 to cancel the payment.
I just put the phone down, but I'm told that should you press button 1, you then end up being asked for personal bank details, to cancel the sale, but in fact, you're being lined up for a clear-out of your account.
This almost happened to someone near where my aunt lives in Wiltshire, but the bank intervened, and stopped the transaction.
 
Possibly worth a mention!
 
Peter.
 
Many thanks Peter.
 
NEXT - YET ANOTHER FROM BARBARA RE TV LICENCE:
 
Hi
 
I’ve just received a very convincing e-mail, supposedly from TV Licensing.
 
They say there were unable to collect my direct debit this month, and I have until tomorrow (22nd), to set up another direct debit.
 
My payment came out of my account as usual on 2nd January and the reference number they gave, was incorrect.
 
Otherwise, it looked very convincing.  It might be worth warning people
 
With best wishes,
 
Barbara
 
Thanks Barbara.  We are right in the middle of Tax Return times - so be prepared for HMRC scam emails.
 
AND ANOTHER FROM BRIAN:
 
Hi
 
I have just received a different email scam, not initially extorting money, but it could screw you whole system.
 
It was sent to my main email address and was from the Microsoft Support Team. This obviously gives it away, but is not always visible unless you are tech inclined.
 
It may be worth alerting members of it potential danger.
 
Kind Regards, Brian
 
The email:
 
Hi xxxx@xx (email address).

Your Outlook Account needs to be updated.
We are upgrading our server to a more user friendly one.
Note
All customers are required to manually upgrade their accounts.
Due date 22 January 2020
There is then a link to click on to do it.

DON’T DO IT - DON’T LET IT BE YOU.
 
 
CRIME
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
20/1  Monday 0.50 a.m.  Bridge Road.  Attempted Burglary.  The owner was at home and heard a loud bang.  They went to investigate and saw a man running away.  No entry gained and nothing stolen.
20/1  Monday 3 p.m. / 4.30 p.m.  Courtfield Drive.  Burglary.  UNKNOWN POINT OF ENTRY - Untidy search of the whole house - not yet known if anything stolen.
20/1  Monday 10.30 a.m. / 1.30 p.m.  Grenfell Place.  Locked up bike stolen.  A black Carrera, mountain bike.
21/1 - 222/1  Tuesday 10 p.m. / Wednesday 7.40 a.m.  Cordwallis Road.  CAR ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS - pack of wet wipes stolen.
22/1  Wednesday 1.50 a.m.  St. Luke’s Road.  Attempted theft from a car.  A video doorbell recorded a man on the drive trying the car door handles to open the car - which was locked.  They then hop over a gate to leave.  Described as mid 20s, 5’6’’, slim, wearing stereo head phones, a tracksuit and trainers and a drawstring bag.
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
 
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
 
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
20/1  Monday 4.15 p.m.  Marlborough Road X 2.  1.  Burglary.  Entry via forced rear door.  Untidy search of the whole house.  Gold jewellery, watch and cash stolen.  2.  A neighbour found tool marks around their door in an attempted burglary.  No entry gained and nothing stolen.
 
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
20/1  Monday 3 a.m.  3 a.m.  The owner was awoken by their video doorbell.  It showed a man with a torch prowling around the property.  The man then walked over to neighbouring properties walking up and down side accesses and looking into cars parked on driveways.  He walked out of camera range, but came back 5 minutes later carrying something.  He then fell over bikes parked in the side access and made off.  In the morning the neighbour reported a shed break with power tools were stolen.  The man is described as white with a goatee beard.
21/1  Tuesday  12.35 p.m.  Clare Road.  Burglary.  A witness reported someone running from a neighbour’s house carrying a bag.  Police attended immediately and discovered 2 men had entered the property via a rear garden fence.  They had then forced a rear door to enter the property.  Internal doors were also forced.  Untidy search of the master bedroom.  Wardrobes and suitcases searched and ban cards, iPads and a mobile phone stolen.
20/1  Monday 4.45 p.m.  Newbury Drive.  CAR ENTERED BY UKNOWN MEANS - loose change and cigarettes stolen.  This theft was captured on a neighbour’s video doorbell camera !
 
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
20/1 0 21/1  Monday 5.30 p.m. / Tuesday 9 a.m.  Business, Braywick Park.  Shipping container broken into - lock forced.  2 chainsaw, 4 Stihl blows, 4 Stihl engines, 2 Stihl Trimmers, 2 Stihl Strimmers, I pruning saw and other items stolen.
19/1 0 20/1  Sunday 12.30 p.m. / Monday 9 a.m.  The farthingales.  Car entered and searched - Tyre compressor and sunglasses stolen.

[Let’s BEE Friendly]

Let’s BEE Friendly is a new Wild Cookham project that offers Cookham Rise residents (first 100 who apply!) a money--off voucher for a lovely collection of Bee-Friendly plants which you can collect from the Vernon Brown plant sales here in Cookham Rise (at the end of March).  In conjunction with Vernon Brown, we have selected a set of plants that look good in your garden and that attract our bees and other pollinators. The money off voucher is worth £5.00 off of a specially selected bundle of plants cost £11.00.

Each Let's BEE Friendly bundle includes:
· TWO 1 litre plants This will include: winter heather, cowslip, lungwort, lavender, rosemary, allium, hollyhock or foxgloves
· FOUR 9cm pots of different Bee-friendly British wildflowers.
· One pot of spring-flowering bulbs.

Seven pots in all of these wonderful plants for your gardens. Plant them in your front gardens and make Cookham Rise even more lovely as well as more BEE Friendly.

For fuller details about the project, see the project blog at: https://lbfcookhamrise.blogspot.com/.

Cookham Rise residents can apply for these vouchers from 1 Feb. Details will be posted on this site.

And to learn more about Wild Cookham is helping to protect our local wildlife and habitats – and to learn more about Let’s BEE Friendly, please come along to our Wild Cookham meeting on Friday Jan 31st at Moor Hall.  See https://www.meetup.com/WildCookham/events/267555669/

We need someone who can volunteer on a Thursday morning ~ with serving tea 🍵 & coffee ☕️ biscuits 🍪 to the elderly members.
We are also looking for someone who can come in the afternoon to do games ~ quizzes ~ word puzzles 🧩 or crafts 🎨 with the elderly members.
Our VOLUNTEERS can join on outings for free if they help out PLUS if they help out at lunch 🍴 ~ they get a FREE lunch too!
Please come to Elizabeth House day centre (the hub of the Cookhams community!), on Station Hill, if you’re interested (you just need to fill out a form) and able to help-out/volunteer, we would really appreciate it! 🙏✨
http://www.elizabethhousecookham.org/
01628 527621

There are still places available at my Wednesday morning art club at The Parish Centre, Cookham. We are a friendly group that enjoy getting creative for a few hours each week, all abilities welcome!
£10 per session, 10am-1pm. Materials supplied. If you are curious please pop in & see what we do.
Or contact Heidi for more info:
heidiramsay@btinternet.com
07956540435 😊

The river level peaked on Sunday at 74cm and is now falling.

The Jubilee Flood Channel was doing its job and was flowing at 80 cubic metres per second over the weekend, up from 10 cumecs last week.

The weather is under a high pressure system (highest pressure since 1957 reported at Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons) and forecast dry (and cold).

The Flood Alert remains in place and we are continuing to monitor the situation.

FIRST: AN IMPORTANT NEW VARIATION ON BANK SCAMS - THIS ONE IS VERY UNPLEASANT:
 
A local resident - neither elderly, nor vulnerable - received a call supposedly, from the Fraud Department at her Bank.
 
They explained that there was fraud going on within her branch of the bank and they would like her help, to find out who the culprit was.
 
They persuaded her, to part with all her banking information and found out how much she had - her life savings - £5,000.  They asked her top transfer that to a safe account and they would monitor the transfer, to see if the person at the bank interfered in any way with it.
 
As that was all she had ……….. They then persuaded her, to apply for a bank loan of £11,000.  They explained over the phone how to do this online and then took her through each part of the online application, telling her what to put in the various boxes, so that the loan would be approved.
 
The online loan, was immediately approved and £11,000 was credited to her account, which at that moment - showed a zero balance !
 
The scammers immediately removed £10,000.  They explained that the £5,000, would cover the staff fees for the bank, investigating Fraud.
 
As the transfers were being completed, the victim’s granddaughter walked in and asked what was going on.  When she heard, she immediately said it was a scam and called the police.  PCSO Tara Harris, went to see the victim and granddaughter and take the police report.  She immediately took them to the bank, to find out exactly what had occurred.
 
The bank were extremely apologetic and immediately cancelled and wrote off the £11,000 loan.  They are hopeful they can trace the £5,000, but won’t know for between 15 / 31 days.
 
THIS IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT AND VARIATION.
 
The victim was persuaded that she was helping the Fraud Department at her bank.  She says they were really convincing.  When they found out how little she had in the bank, they were prepared with the online loan information and must have had a copy of the online form in front of them, as they took her through every part, telling her what to put in the boxes, most of which was completely fraudulent re work and income, in order to have the loan approved.
 
PLEASE BE ON YOUR GUARD - AND - DON’T LET IT BE YOU.
The Met Pol have produced this video:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy-RSQfwLDw
 
It is really good and explains everything.
 
There are still people falling for these scams every day, so we are obviously not spreading the awareness message far and wide enough.  It is up to those of us that know, to help and support our neighbours, work colleagues, friends and relatives !!
 
The Borough’s online newsletter has just come out:
 
Take part in our children's and youth centre consultation
 
We want to hear your views on our plans to transform early help services into integrated, one-stop family hubs.
 
The proposals could see local resources refocussed to support our most vulnerable children, young people and families, helping to reduce the need for statutory intervention.
 
If approved, the plans will see services being run by children's centres, youth centres, parenting service, health visitors, school nurses and the family resilience service bought together into one stop "family hubs" so that residents accessing this support can get all the help they need in one place. The hubs will provide services to children aged between 0-19 and up to 25 years for young people with a learning difficulty or disability.
 
The proposed model focusses on using high footfall centres more intensively and responsive outreach work to replace the reliance on a static and inflexible timetable led programme, allowing our resources to keep pace with the needs of our most vulnerable residents.
 
The consultation is available online or you can attend a variety of consultation sessions in children centres - click here for more information.
 
Free NHS health checks
 
If you are aged between 40 and 74, an NHS Health Check is available free of charge from your local GP.
 
The 20-minute appointment can help lower your risk of developing type-2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Through simple lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, you can lower your risk of developing serious health problems.
 
Call your GP surgery to book a health check today and enjoy a healthier life for longer.
 
To register to get these online updates:
 
Keeping in touch

Keep up to date with news and information from across the borough by following us on Twitter and Facebook.
 
Our recent press releases are also on the website.
 
Other accounts you may be interested in:
Royal Windsor Information Centre tourism web page. 
Enjoy Maidenhead web page and Facebook.
Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.
Children's centres on Facebook.
Borough Leisure Centre web pages.
 
Communications Team
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
Town Hall
St Ives Road
Maidenhead
SL6 1RF
 
T: 01628 683800
E: communications@rbwm.gov.uk

CRIME
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
DIPPERS - PICKPOCKETS - IN THE TOWN CENTRE over the weekend.  Purses and wallets stolen.  If you go into maidenhead Police Station, they will give you some purse bells to stop this happening.  The bells are attached to purses etc.  If someone reaches into your bag to remove them - they tinkle !!
16/1 - 17/1  High Street.  A 10 year old, went into a shop and then into a private staff area and took cash and bank cards.  The stolen cards have been used.
17/1 - 18/1  Friday 8 p.m. / Saturday 9.35 a.m.  Hairdressers, window broken and bars damaged to access hair products and straighteners which were stolen.
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
17/1 - 18/1  Friday 3 p.m. / Saturday 10.15 a.m.  Church, St Peter’s Road.  A branch has been broken from a tree which has been pushed over.  Bottles and broken glass have been found in the area.
17/1 - 18/1  Friday 5 p.m. / Saturday 9.30 a.m.  Connaught Close.  Car rear windscreen smashed - criminal damage.
 
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
20/1  Monday 4.15 a.m.  Lambourne Drive.  Shed break.  Offender possibly climbed over a fence to access the garden.  They then opened the unlocked door of the shed, when the Video doorbell alarm sounded, and they made off, jumping the fence into the next door garden.  Described as about 25, 5’6’’, slim build, wearing a dark blue hoody, dark tracksuit bottoms with a backpack.  ANOTHER SUCCESS FOR VIDEO DOORBELLS.  I knew they video continually, not just when the doorbell is pressed or the beam broken and that they record not only video but sound - so that you can tell someone on the doorstep what to do with packages - or visitors to wait - but now we know you can also cause them to emit a siren and alarm - another reason to get one. !  If you don’t have wifi, there are also versions you can buy, but they need hard wiring.
19/1  Sunday 4 a.m. / 6 a.m.  Clare Road.  Car driver’s side window smashed - cash stolen.
 
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
17/1  Friday 0.50 a.m. / 1 a.m.  Bray Lake, Monkey Island lane, Bray.  Business burglary.  Entry via security pad, then climbing over a fence.  Various containers searched.  Honda 15v outboard engine and a Yamaha 9.9v outboard engine stolen.
17/1  Friday 1.30 p.m. / 11.10 p.m.  Monkey Island Lane, Bray.  Burglary.  Entry via forced rear door.  Untidy search of whole house.  An Apple Macbook, Bugaboo Donkey pushchair, jewellery, a black Carrerra Vulcan bike, a Go Pro camera, X Box plus controller, Harley Davidson electric scooters X 3 - one yellow, one light blue and one Navy blue) and a black Ford Fiesta index LL ** VPY stolen.
19/1  Sunday 3.40 a.m.  Aysgarth Park.  Attempted shed break.  CCTV shows a person with a torch jumping over a garden fence and then trying to open the shed which was locked.  They then climbed out of the garden over a wall.  No entry gained and nothing stolen.  Man, mid 20s, under 6’, slim, wearing a hoody and beanie hat, carrying a torch.
17/1  Friday 8 p.m. / 8.45 p.m.  Drift Road.  Burglary.  The key holder reported an alarm activation at the property.  The police attended and found electric gates forced open, and a side window forced.  The alarm box ripped from the wall and an untidy search of the property.  Jewellery and handbags stolen.
16/1 - 17/1  Thursday 5 p.m. / Friday 10 a.m.  Bray Marina, Monkey Island Lane, Bray.  Outboard motor stolen from a boat, while it was moored.

I’m looking for an experienced fabric darner / fabric mender to work in my factory in Taplow mending loom faults in cashmere.

Do you want to work in beautiful surroundings for one of Europe's most important charities? Cliveden are delighted to offer several opportunities for you to join the energetic team. The estate, set high above the Thames with far-reaching views, hosts impressive gardens and majestic woodlands steeped in 350 years of history.

https://careers.nationaltrust.org.uk/OA_HTML/a/#/search?searchText=Cliveden

Looks like the thieves are busy nicking laptops and removing catalytic converters.