Reading

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after burglars broke into a house in Reading this morning (29/3).

Between 1.30am and 7.30am, offenders gained entry through the front door of a Reading property in Lowfield Road, Caversham.

Once inside they stole two laptop computers and other computer equipment; various mobile phones; £500; US Dollars worth £1,500; bank and credit cards and personal papers including the victim’s UK passport and American Visa documents.

Reading Police are appealing for anybody who has information about this incident to come forward. The victim is particularly keen to recover their passport and Visa.

Anyone with information should call the Thames Valley Police 24-hour non-emergency single number 101 and ask to speak to Det Con Helen Purnell.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

An Ofsted inspection has found that Safeguarding and Looked After Children services in Reading are performing adequately.

The Reading report – published today on the Ofsted website – says: “The overall effectiveness of safeguarding services is adequate. Children and young people at immediate risk of significant harm are identified and responded to in a timely way to ensure they are protected, and partner agencies collaborate well operationally to safeguard children and young people.”

It goes on to say: “Strong political leadership and a commitment to safeguarding are ensuring high prioritisation of children’s safety and protection within the council’s strategic priorities.”

Inspectors also took time to praise the prioritisation of Reading children’s safety and protection within a tight Council budget. The report states: “Staffing capacity has been increased in key areas and political support has been unwavering in protecting children’s services, despite wider economic pressures.”

The Ofsted team visited Reading Borough Council’s Safeguarding and Looked After Children’s service between February 6 and 17 this year.

The inspection included discussions with 30 Reading children and young people receiving services and a review of 60 case files for children, as well as discussions with front line Council officers, elected members and the health professionals from NHS Berkshire, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust who help deliver the service. At the time of the inspection there were 243 looked after children, 180 of which were subject to child protection plans.

Attracting and retaining Safeguarding staff is a nationwide issue for every local authority. Ofsted Inspectors noted Reading Borough Council had ‘invested to maintain a stable workforce’ and added “training and professional development needs of newly qualified social workers are recognised…”

Inspectors also deemed capacity for improvement in Safeguarding to be adequate. The report adds: “Staff across the partnership report they enjoy working in the borough and demonstrate commitment to the values of the partnership and its priorities and direction.”

The Reading Council has already taken action, including extending Children’s Social Care’s existing audit processes to routinely monitor consistency and quality, and introducing a quarterly independent file review. The Council, NHS Berkshire and other partners will also be establishing robust, agreed quality standards for Safeguarding practice across the partnership.

The second area of the inspection was in Looked After Children. Despite the significant challenge of a 7% increase over the last 18 months in the number of looked after children and young people in Reading – as against 2% nationally – the service was again deemed to be adequate, as was it’s capacity for improvement.

The Reading report states: “Outcomes in respect of enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and economic well-being are good.” It adds: “The council and its members demonstrate good ambition for looked after children and young people and have prioritised resources and specific areas of practice improvement.”

The need for the Council to improve the provision of in-house foster carers was noted by inspectors who also said: “There is also evidence that the Council’s use of resources is increasingly effective in maintaining cost-control and is providing value for money.”

Health was highlighted by inspectors as the main area for improvement for Looked After Children. This was deemed inadequate by inspectors. A number of recommendations were made to NHS Berkshire and Berkshire Healthcare Foundation NHS to improve this area. These include ensuring that all care leavers are enabled to access health services and that all looked after children and young people receive age-appropriate health education information.

John Ennis, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Education and Children’s Services, said: “This is an encouraging report in what is the most important of all areas of the Council’s work. It is clear however that there is still a considerable amount of work to be done to help drive through further improvements. We will now continue to work closely with our partners to make sure the improvements that are needed are delivered.”

Reading Borough Council

Thames Valley Police has charged three people with aggravated burglary in connection with an incident in Reading on Sunday (25/3).

Theresa Yearwood, aged 37, from Willow Street, Reading, Kevin McGrath, aged 48, from Gosbrook Road, Caversham, and Julian Grimsey, aged 49, of no fixed abode will all appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court today (27/3).

The charges relate to an incident which happened at an address in Oxford Road at around 11.50pm on Sunday.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

With the Olympic Games and Diamond Jubilee celebrations fast approaching, eight Reading projects are set to make 2012 extra special with the help of Reading Borough Council.

The Reading Culture and Sport Grants scheme, which offers residents and community groups the opportunity to fund sport and cultural activities throughout the local community, has awarded the following projects funds totalling £41,893:

• Reading Festival Chorus (£1885): A picnic and concert of summer music at the University of Reading’s Great Hall.

• Centre Skills Sport CIC (£3300): Holiday football and multi-sports camps for 5-16 year olds at Kensington Road Recreation Ground.

• Reading Carnival Project (£1600): Workshops in costume and float making, music and dance.

• Reading Mencap (£3886): Educational, sporting and cultural activities and play schemes for children with disabilities.

• Creative Junction (£7222): Cultural and learning activities for children and young people to develop values, skills and self knowledge.

• Hogarth Productions (£4000): A series of musical and physical performances that will include at least two world premiere pieces of work.

• Readipop (£10,000): Delivering various workshop programmes prior to the Caversham 2012 festival, bunting and samba dance lessons.

• 2012 Partnership Board (£10,000): A free family festival of Sports, Music and Art on the River Thames (SMART) for the community to be engaged in on “Super Saturday”, the middle weekend of the Olympic Games.

The successful projects offer residents of all ages, backgrounds and abilities a wide range of exciting and engaging activities throughout the year, while the country is gripped with Olympic, football and party fever. The winning projects also promise to help participants carry on with those activities after the project has reached the finished line.

Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Sport, Cllr Marian Livingston, said: “2012 was always going to be a special year when it came to culture and sporting activities, but we wanted to make it extra special in Reading.

“These activities give our residents a real opportunity to learn new skills which could ignite a flame inside of them, as well as meet new people and just have fun – and fun should be what this year is all about.

“I’m sure people across the town will enjoy the activities which have benefited from the Culture and Sport Grants scheme this year and I want to encourage potential applicants to submit their bids for next round’s funding as soon as possible and help us keep the party going long after 2012 has ended.”

Reading Borough Council is inviting applications for the next round of funding from 1st April. Applications are received and reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information visit www.theculturalpartnership.co.uk or contact Reading Borough Council’s Culture and Sport Development Service on 0118 937 4047

Reading Borough Council

Thames Valley Police has arrested three people as part of its investigation into an assault at a property in Reading.

The incident happened at an address in Oxford Road, Reading at around 11.50pm yesterday (25/3).

Three people entered the property and attacked a 44-year-old man in downstairs room. He suffered a broken ankle and bruising to his upper body and head.

A 47-year-old man from Caversham, a 37-year-old woman from central Reading and a 49-year-old man of no fixed abode have all been arrested on suspicion of assault and are currently in custody at Loddon Valley police station.

Det Con James Woodcock, from Reading CID, said: “I’m keen to hear from anyone who was in the area around the time and saw the offenders leaving the property.

“I am also keen from anyone who may know what the motivation is for the attack.”

Anyone with any information should contact Reading CID via the Force enquiry centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the Reading police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

Work has been completed on a state-of-the-art toilet and changing room in the Reading Town Centre.

The new facility in Reading Broad Street Mall will be available to disabled residents, their families and carers from Monday 26th March, with the official opening ceremony on Monday 2nd April.

Thanks to a £44,000 grant from Reading Borough Council, disabled residents will be able to enjoy a facility which boasts specialist equipment, such as an overhead hoist, shower trolley, adjustable height wash basin, and an Aquaclean toilet. Access to the toilets will be via an automated door system which can be opened by a remote key fob.

The project to deliver these plush new facilities is part of the national ‘Changing Places’ campaign to make more suitable toilets and changing rooms available for disabled people across the UK. There are other ‘Changing Places’ facilities in Maidenhead, Newbury, Bracknell and Basingstoke.

Reading Borough Council officers consulted widely on the new facility with user groups such as the Reading Families Forum, the Physical Disability and Sensory Needs Network, the Access & Disabilities Working Group and the Carers Strategy Group.

Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Education and Children’s Services, John Ennis, said: “I am delighted for disabled residents in Reading – they will now have suitable and accessible toilet and changing facilities available to them in the town centre. The project is a prime example of what effective partnership work between the Council and local residents can achieve.”

Chair of the Access & Disabilities Working Group, Cllr Pete Ruhemann, said: “The new toilets and changing rooms in Broad Street Mall are fantastic for disabled members of our community.

“As I have said before, disabled residents in Reading have been pushing for facilities like these in the town centre and I am happy we have delivered, with the help of Broad Street Mall, who have been fantastic partners in this project.”

Centre Manager of the Broad Street Mall, Steve Fawke, said: “We are really pleased to have been able to facilitate such a project and my sincere thanks goes to Reading Borough Council for giving us the opportunity to work with them. This facility will make a real difference to both users and their carers giving them an opportunity to enjoy what Reading has to offer.”

Local resident and parent of disabled daughter, Emma Byrne, added: “We’re delighted to have these new facilities in Reading. It will make it much easier for me to help my daughter when she needs the toilet. Having all the extra room means we do not have to struggle in a cramped cubicle and the hoist and bed means that she won’t have to lie on a dirty floor to get changed.”

Reading Borough Council

Spring is almost upon us and to celebrate, Reading Borough Council has planted a beautiful display of flowers all across the town.

Reading Residents and business owners have complimented the Council on its blooming wonderful display of flowers, especially the crocuses planted on Granville Road near Coronation Square.

The Council has also planted a spectacular display of daffodils on the Southdown Road banks and Norcot banks.

Daffodils and other bulbs have also sprung up at: Tilehurst Road banks, Coronation Square Southcote, Reading, Bath Road, Wensley Road Coley, Whitley, Foxhays Road Whitley and the Buckingham Drive/Knights Way area of Caversham.

One resident told the Council: “Thank You! Hundreds of people drive past that spot every day and I am sure that their journeys, like mine, are immeasurably improved by the sight of the flowers.”

This sentiment was echoed by another Reading resident, who said: “I would like to say how lovely the daffodils are on the grassy banks at the bottom of Norcot Rd, Tilehurst. They will be an absolute picture when they all come into bloom. I would like to thank the gardening staff who planted them, well done a brilliant job.”

The flowers have been planted in various neighbourhoods across the town thanks to investment from Reading Borough Council’s Housing Decent Neighbourhood Fund (DNF), which is financed by Council property rents. The DNF is money that has been set aside by the Council’s housing team to spend on projects that will help improve the appearance of Reading neighbourhoods, as well as activities and events to help build better communities.

Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Housing and Neighbourhood, Cllr Rachel Eden, said: “I am delighted with the positive impact the flowers and plants have had in the various neighbourhoods right across Reading.

“Projects brought through by the Decent Neighbourhood Fund are not just about the Council delivering services, but they are about the Council working together with communities who care deeply about the way their neighbourhoods look and feel.

“We are very keen to hear from our tenants with any ideas they have for projects or events which can brighten up Reading in the coming year.”

For more information please contact Reading Borough Council’s Housing team on 0118 937 2161 or neighbourhoodservices@reading.gov.uk.

Reading Borough Council

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a robbery in Reading on Saturday (17/3).

At around 2am, a 16-year-old girl was walking home from Reading town centre towards Reading Bridge.

As she walked across Reading Bridge, she saw a man stood by the steps on the Caversham side of the bridge. He tried to speak to the girl and then grabbed her. He snatched her mobile phone from her hand and ran off down the steps towards the river.

The victim walked back towards Reading town centre to get help. On the way she met a man, described as white and in his twenties, who escorted her back to the town centre.

The Reading offender is described as an Asian man in his twenties, around 5ft 9ins and fairly slim.

The stolen phone was a black Blackberry Curve. The victim sustained minor injuries as a result of the attack.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the Reading robbery, especially anyone who may have been driving across the bridge at the time of the offence and witnessed a struggle. Officers would also like to speak to anyone who saw the offender in the area and would also ask the man who came to the victim’s assistance to come forward.

Anyone with any information should contact Det Con Maggie Bruce via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading