It is with great sadness that we announce Councillor Sam Rahmouni passed away last week.
Sam was first elected to Woodley Town Council in 1999, when he stood for election in Coronation West Ward and remained for the duration of his time as a Town Councillor.
Cllr Rahmouni was an active member of the Town Council and was on several committees during his time including, most recently, the Planning & Community Committee.
He also served as Deputy Town Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-18 and Woodley Town Mayor 2018-19.
Woodley Town Council Leader, Cllr Keith Baker, knew Sam for many years and comments:
“I have known Sam for over a decade and found him very much a man of the people. His passion for helping Woodley residents was second to none. As a Town Councillor he was always willing to offer his services to the Town Council in whatever capacity was required. During his career he was both a Borough and a Town Councillor reaching the pinnacle of being Woodley Town Mayor. His activities, on behalf of Woodley residents, was always carried out in a very quiet way shunning any publicity.
“Outside of his political career, he had a passion for the pub, with many regulars of the Chequers knowing him well. The other passion was at Christmas time when he religiously created jars and jars of pickled onions, which were delicious. I will certainly miss him as a friend, a political colleague, a fellow pub goer and a provider of great pickled onions. He had a heart of good and will be greatly missed by all.”
Thames Valley Police are keen to keep everyone safe this Halloween and Bonfire/Fireworks night and its Neighbourhood Team will be carrying out patrols in the evenings to make sure people who are trick or treating or enjoying the fireworks are doing so in a friendly manner and not causing a nuisance.
Thames Valley Police will not tolerate Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) at any time of the year. If you have any information regarding ASB in your neighbourhood, please report it at www.thamesvalley.police.uk, call the non-emergency number 101, or in an emergency, dial 999.
They have issued some posters which contain advice on how to stay safe and/or avoid being disturbed during the Halloween and bonfire celebrations.
If you would like to use them, please click each image to download a PDF version.
Recycle your pumpkin
Wokingham Borough Council’s food waste recycling service means you can put all the insides of your pumpkin straight into your food waste caddy.
If your pumpkin is too big, chop it up first. Alternatively, sit it next to your bin on your collection day next and the crew will take it away for it to be turned into fertiliser. If you have any issues, please contact Wokingham Borough Council directly.
Alternatively, why not eat your pumpkin!
Re3 Recycling have issued a poster promoting ways in which to eat your pumpkin.
We hope you have a Happy Halloween and bonfire/fireworks celebrations.
With only 60 days until Christmas – as at the date of writing on Thursday 27th October – the Woodley Town Centre Partnership team are already in Christmas mode and busy getting their events ready.
For any further information, please contact the Woodley Town Centre Manager, Brian Fennelly: tcm@woodley.gov.uk.
L-R: Woodley Town Deputy Mayor, Cllr Kay Gilder; Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel
Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel, hosted a charity Afternoon Tea on Sunday 23rd October in the Miles Suite at the Oakwood Centre to raise money for her chosen charity, Keep Mobile.
Guests were treated to a delicious afternoon tea, served on vintage crockery. Live music was played throughout, followed by fund-raising activities, including an Afternoon Tea Quiz and a raffle.
Cllr Janet Sartorel was delighted with the event, particularly as afternoon tea is her favourite meal.
She thanked all of the guests who had bought tickets and came to support her charity event.
“I hope you have enjoyed the afternoon as much as I have. I’d like to thank you all from coming and help raise money for Keep Mobile. I’d also like to thank Woodley Town Deputy Mayor, Cllr Kay Gilder, for her supreme efforts persuading many local businesses to donate raffle prizes, which many of you are now the lucky recipients of.
However, my biggest thanks go to the Woodley Town Council staff who have worked so hard over recent months to make this event happen. Not only that, they have also given up their Sunday to get the tea together, decorate the tables, set up the flowers, organise the raffle, the quiz and then will need to return to their ‘proper’ jobs all over again tomorrow.”
“I’m proud to say that over £400 has been raised for Keep Mobile, a local organisation who provide transport for the elderly and disabled in the area. Having attended their AGM last year, I was so impressed with the work they do that I chose Keep Mobile as my charity this Mayoral year,” added Janet.
Keep Mobile
Sally Gibson, Manager of Keep Mobile attended the event along with members of the board and the team. She sent us some very moving words following the event:
Mayor’s Charity Afternoon Tea
We booked our table and waiting for the date
We all couldn’t wait
On the day we walked down the corridor of the Oakwood Centre
to a very warm welcome from the Town Mayor, Janet Sartorel, the presenter
We were handed a glass of prosecco or juice
Meeting new people which gave us a boost
Raffle tickets and sweetie jar guessing game we could take part
All money going to the charity close to our heart
Tea, sandwiches, cake and scones were enjoyed by all
We were so full and couldn’t move, we thought we might have to crawl
Once we had eaten and drunk all the tea it was time for an afternoon quiz
Prizes to win, chocolates and a bottle of fizz
The raffle was drawn, winners on all tables
But more on our neighbours
Wow what an enjoyable afternoon
Let’s do it all again soon
Keep Mobile would like to say a big thank you to the Mayor and her team
The day just went like a dream
If is wasn’t for people like you
Keep Mobile couldn’t provide the service they do.
Thanks
We would like to thank all those who attended and all the local businesses who donated raffle prizes. Thanks also to Jamie Ledwith for his talented piano playing.
£20 voucher from Home & Gifts in Woodley Town Centre
£20 voucher from Woodley Pets in Woodley Town Centre
Coffee & Cake Deal voucher from Crumbs cafe in Woodley Town Centre
£40 voucher from Fireaway Pizza in Woodley
Free coffee EVERY DAY in November voucher from Brown Bag Café in the Oakwood Centre
Wine tasting & tour for 2 people from Stanlake Park Wine Estate in Twyford
£20 voucher from Maya’s Treats in Woodley Town Centre
Handbag from local boutique Lula Bula
Champagne and chocolates from Woodley Town Mayor
Bottle of Cava from Waitrose in Woodley
£25 voucher from Delightful Bites in Woodley – very generously gifted to the staff of Woodley Town Council for their hard work from the winner
Christmas Wreath voucher for 1 person from Polly’s Gardens in Wokingham
Plus various other prizes, including wine, jar of sweets, mugs, body lotions and hair products.
In memoriam to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Woodley Town Council has planted an oak tree in Woodford Park near the lake.
Queen’s Green Canopy
The tree will be listed on The Queen’s Green Canopy map, in addition to the tree the Council planted for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.
The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative has been extended to the end of March 2023, following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, and the wishes of The Queen’s Green Canopy Patron, His Majesty The King.
At the recent Full Council meeting, Woodley Town Council signed up to the Civility and Respect Pledge
The Civility and Respect Pledge is part of a project created and overseen by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), One Voice Wales (OVW), the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and county associations, to put civility and respect at the top of the agenda and start a positive cultural change for the local council sector.
Civility and Respect Pledge
The Civility and Respect Pledge is being introduced to enable councils to demonstrate that they are committed to stand up to poor behaviour, bullying, harassment and intimidation across the sector and to drive through positive changes which support civil and respectful conduct.
Mission statement of the Project
Civility and respect should be at the heart of public life, and good governance is fundamental to ensuring an effective and well-functioning democracy at all levels.
The intimidation, abuse, bullying and harassment of councillors, clerks and council staff, in person or online, is unacceptable, whether by councillors, clerks, council staff, or public members.
This can prevent councils from functioning effectively, councillors from representing local people, discourage people from getting involved, including standing for election, and undermine public confidence and trust in local democracy.
NALC, county associations and OVW, as the membership organisations representing the first tier of local government in England and Wales, and the SLCC, as the professional body for clerks, are committed to working together to promote civility and respect in public life, good governance, positive debate and supporting the well-being of councillors, professional officers and staff.
To that end, the Civility and Respect Working Group will be working to deliver tangible resources, actions and interventions in four main areas: providing councils with the tools to support good governance; lobbying to strengthen the standards regime and encouraging more people to get involved; training; and processes to intervene to provide support to struggling councils.
Changes to rubbish and recycling to help cut costs and plastic consumption
Waste Consultation
Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) has launched a consultation to seek Wokingham Borough residents’ views on potential changes to its rubbish and recycling collections that could see the borough’s weekly general rubbish and recycling collections change to be more in line with the majority of local authorities in the country.
Due to unprecedented financial pressures, new government legislation and the Council’s climate emergency goals, WBC has had to change how it collects residents’ rubbish and recycling, and wants to know how the potential changes would affect everyone.
The consultation outlines two options on how often rubbish and recycling are collected. Both options would require the introduction of wheeled bins for general rubbish. The consultation is open until 5 December 2022.
Click HERE to visit the Engage Wokingham Borough website and take part in the Consultation.
For help completing the survey online, call the customer services team on (0118) 974 6000 or visit one of the borough’s libraries. Help taking the online survey is available over the phone or in person, and paper and electronic copies (PDF format) are also available on request.
Please note that wreaths should be ordered before the end of the third week in October to ensure delivery before Armistice Day.
Remembrance Sunday community event
A separate, non-Council event is being held by local residents at the War Memorial on Sunday 13th November:
Service starts at 10:50am; please arrive from 10.30am
Tea and cake will be available afterwards in the Oakwood Centre
Music will be playing throughout
Woodley Memorial Remembrance 2022 is also running a poetry competition and a poppy quiz in Woodley Town Centre from November for children of all ages to join in with. Please contact Woodley Town Centre manager, Brian Fennelly, for more information: tcm@woodley.gov.uk.
Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel, and Woodley Town Deputy Mayor, Cllr Kay Gilder, are hosting a fundraising Afternoon Tea Party to raise money for the Mayor’s chosen charity, Keep Mobile.
The event will be held at the Oakwood Centre on Sunday 23rd October 1pm – 4pm and guests will be entertained with live music, while enjoying a delicious Afternoon Tea of assorted sandwiches, cakes and scones, served on vintage crockery, accompanied by tea or coffee and a glass of Prosecco.
There will also be live fundraising activities, including a raffle for some super prizes! Please bring some cash!
Tickets must be purchased in advance and we have a limit of 80 tickets so please buy yours ASAP to avoid missing out. Tickets can be purchased individually or in groups up to 8 per table. Please make sure to fill in any dietary requirements on the booking form.
Keep Mobile is a voluntary organisation providing transport for elderly and disabled people throughout the Wokingham and Bracknell Forest borough areas, including providing a significant number of journeys to passengers from within Woodley.
Cllr Sartorel chose Keep Mobile as the Mayor’s Charity for 2022/23, after attending their AGM in May and hearing first hand about the important service the organisation provides to residents across the area.
Like other charities, Keep Mobile have to raise funds to maintain the services they offer. After receiving funding from the unitary councils, together with grants from a number of town and parish councils, the organisation is still short of funds by approximately 30% and rely heavily on public generosity as well to keep the organisation running.
All profits from the event will go to Keep Mobile.
The venue is wheelchair accessible and there is a large public car park area opposite the Centre. Alternatively, there is free parking at Woodford Park Leisure Centre.
It’s that time of year again when we ask you to nominate your local heroes, whose good work benefits the community of Woodley.
Perhaps it’s a neighbour who goes above and beyond to help others in Woodley, or the young child who picks up litter in their spare time. Maybe you know someone who gives up their time to volunteer and help others in need or someone who is championing charitable causes that benefit people in Woodley. Or perhaps they are championing climate change in Woodley.
Give them the recognition they deserve and nominate them now for one of our Community Heroes Awards.
The renamed awards are now divided into 6 categories:
Community Heroes – Neighbour of the Year – Awarded to an individual who has, independently (ie not part of a wider charity organisation) provided exceptional care and support to a Woodley resident or residents within their local community
Community Heroes – Volunteer of the Year – Awarded to an individual who has, as part of a voluntary or charity organisation, provided exceptional support to the activities of the organisation, making a difference to residents of Woodley
Community Heroes – Voluntary Group of the Year – Awarded to an organisation that has provided exceptional support and services to Woodley residents
Community Heroes – Climate Champion of the Year – Awarded to an individual, organisation or group that has made a significant contribution to fighting climate change and / or climate initiatives within the area
Community Heroes – Young Person of the Year – Awarded to an individual aged 19 or under who, through voluntary activities, has made an exceptional contribution to the Woodley community
Community Heroes – Mayor’s Outstanding Contribution Award – Awarded by the Mayor to an individual or organisation who they feel have provided an outstanding contribution to the community
Nominations
Nomination forms can be downloaded HERE, picked up from our office at the Oakwood Centre, or you can call or email us (0118 9690356/admin@woodley.gov.uk) and ask for one to be posted to you.
Guidelines for nominating are also on our website.
The deadline for nominations is 16th November so please hurry and get nominating!
Awards Ceremony
The winners will be awarded at our Community Heroes Award evening on 24th February 2023, held at the Oakwood Centre.
The Hardship Alliance, which consists of Age UK Berkshire, Citizens Advice Wokingham, First Day’s Children’s Charity, Wokingham Borough Council, Wokingham Foodbank & Wokingham United Charities, is collectively working hard to respond as effectively as it can to the cost-of-living crisis.
In order to understand the full impact, the Alliance is asking local residents to complete a quick and anonymous survey.
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