Bracknell Forest is a place full of vibrant and diverse communities We want to make sure we continue to grow stronger more resilient and healthy communities across the borough That’s why we’re developing a long-term plan to help communities grow and thrive The 10-year strategy is being created by the community It aims to support both geographical communities and those built around shared interests or passions We need local people to help shape this strategy. Share your insights by completing our short survey.  Pop-up events and engagement opportunities will be announced soon Read the latest Your Bracknell Forest Extra Sign up to Your Bracknell Forest Extra Bracknell parkrun #435-England Rugby Legend’s visit helps break course record 526 keen parkrunners came to Great Hollands Recreation Ground this Saturday to run This was a course record for us here at Bracknell beating the 469 set in 2016 and the 437 we achieved recently on the 5th April at our 10th birthday event The weather was only slightly cooler than it has otherwise been on this unseasonably very warm week With the three day weekend for lots of us upon us We welcomed some returning heroes who completed the London or Manchester Marathon last Sunday a massive and heartfelt congratulations to them Today we must admit that part of the reason we broke the course record may have been something to do with the visit of a certain Rugby England World Cup winning legend Jonny Wilkinson who was visiting as a Vitality ambassador to promote parkwalking A common misconception is that parkrun is for those that can and want to run only Every one is equal at parkrun and those that want to walk are just as valued That is why parkwalking is being promoted strongly across all parkruns currently so please do let any friends or family members you know that want to come and walk that they are more than welcome and in fact encouraged to join us at parkrun events Jonny gave a talk after Run Director Martin’s Briefing expressing how wonderful the parkrun community is and I could not agree more Astonishingly 22 years have passed since I’m sure a lot of us were glued to our TV sets as Jonny’s decisive kick gave England that phenomenal victory over Australia Down Under slightly less than a year before parkrun was founded in Bushy Park back in October 2004 So much has changed in that time in sport in general rugby and of course the growth of parkrun but I must say Jonny barely looked a day older It was great to have him with us and we hope to see him again Many parkrunners went home happy after getting autographs and pictures to which Jonny was more than happy to oblige For those that are unware our course is a two lap clockwise figure of eight course on a mixture of woodchip trail with two beautiful woodland areas to navigate Bonuses of coming to visit the Bracknell parkrun alongside the welcoming team and community feel There were 73 of you who achived PB’s today Congratulations to those completed milestones today (whether official or not): A double celebration of 250 runs/50 volunteer credits- Richard A huge welcome and well done to those who completed their first ever parkrun or first visit to Bracknell it was great to see so many of you at Robert’s First Timers Briefing There were in fact 100 of you who were here for the first time 69 who had completed another parkrun before and 31 who completed their first ever parkrun We hope to see you many more times in the future Thanks also to all our regulars that continually ensure this event is as strong A massive thank you to our 41 volunteers today This wonderful event wouldn’t happen without you I encourage you to give it a try one day if you can very addictive and an easy way to meet and talk to like minded people Hope to see lots of you at Bracknell and other future parkrun events in the future physical and mental benefits this great community event can provide © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner Three retailers have signed up for a total 23,039 sq ft at the Lexicon Bracknell Fashion brand Mango has taken 19,210 sq ft body and home shop Rituals has taken 2,035 sq ft and coffee shop Jamaica Blue has taken 1,794 sq ft at the centre which is owned in a joint venture between Schroders Capital and Legal & General Capital asset manager for Schroders Capital’s real estate team said: “It is great to secure such a strong selection of new arrivals at The Lexicon as we continue to diversify our tenant mix Both Mango and Rituals are favourites amongst UK shoppers so they are really welcome additions to The Lexicon and we expect both to generate high interest amongst our customers “Bracknell continues to go from strength to strength along with the growing footfall across The Lexicon demonstrates how our on-site team continue to make the scheme a welcoming place for all “Their action-packed events calendar helps to create a retail destination which is vibrant all year round ensuring The Lexicon remains the Thames Valley’s leading retail destination.”  The Lexicon’s retained leasing agents are CBRE and Lunson Mitchenall © Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com) Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" UK Property Forums enable forums and events in the property sector which help to create business development opportunities Office Address:UK Property Forums Ltd is located in Reading 0203 478 7340info@ukpropertyforums.com We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again A new plan to improve travel around Bracknell Forest has been agreed by the council’s Cabinet The fourth Local Transport Plan (LTP4) outlines the borough’s long-term transport strategy from 2025 to 2037 It sets out how the council will create a more sustainable accessible and resilient transport network that supports the environment local economy and residents’ health and wellbeing The new plan responds to national priorities such as climate change and decarbonisation as well as local priorities shaped through community consultation More than 1,000 residents gave their views through surveys and drop-in events in late 2023 and early 2024 “This new plan sets out a bold but achievable vision for how we get around Bracknell Forest and places a clear emphasis on sustainable travel “Through targeted investment and positive changes in how we travel this plan will support healthier lives and help protect our environment for future generations.” LTP4 has been developed alongside the borough’s new Local Plan The plan will now be recommended for adoption at Full Council later this year For more information and to read the plan, visit the local transport plan page The latest edition of Your Bracknell Forest is now being delivered to households across the borough And much more!Read the spring edition of Your Bracknell Forest (PDF, 8.09MB) All households in the borough should receive a copy in the next few days If you live in Bracknell Forest and have not received a copy by Friday 9 May, email communications.marketing@bracknell-forest.gov.uk businesses and community groups can now choose to green their streets following the launch of a tree sponsorship scheme It was co-founded in May 2021 by the charity Trees for Cities and civic innovator Start with Local The scheme works with councils across the UK to facilitate the planting of trees through community led sponsorship Bracknell Forest Council has recently joined the scheme to give residents more choice about tree planting in their streets “We are excited to be working with Trees for Streets to run this tree sponsorship scheme Residents can use the Trees for Streets online form to request to sponsor a new street tree at a location of their choosing We will check the location and recommend suitable tree species we will plant the tree in winter when trees are dormant “The sponsorship pays towards tree purchase and planting costs The tree will be between 2 to 3 metres tall Residents can choose to water their own sponsored tree or pay for us to do this “Residents can also choose to sponsor a new tree in one of the parks we manage “If there is strong support for greening a larger area there is a crowdfunding option for our communities and the community will need to work together to fundraise for their campaign “We look forward to working with the local community to green our streets.” encourage exercise and bring communities together they make our neighbourhoods more beautiful and welcoming “By working in partnership with Bracknell Forest Council our aim is to empower locals to make their neighbourhoods greener and healthier.” For further information about how the scheme works, including the cost of tree sponsorship, visit our new Sponsor a tree in Bracknell Forest page we are excited about the return of Bracknell Pride for its third year 2025 promises to be our biggest event ever Celebrate with us on Saturday 7 June 2025 from 11am until 7pm free music and entertainment will help to make this an unmissable day for all Pride is an annual celebration of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian and others) communities all around the world LGBTQIA+ people still face unacceptable stigma and discrimination just simply for being themselves their history and their fight for equality Pride month is marked around the world to promote acceptance and the right to be yourself.  More information on Pride is available on the BBC’s website Pride raises awareness of important topics like inclusion and LGBTQIA+ rights.  Pride began after the 1969 Stonewall riots The Stonewall riots were important protests that took place in 1969 in the USA It changed gay rights for a lot of people in America and around the world The first Pride marches started the following year These one-day celebrations eventually evolved into a full month build support and remind us that there is still work to do It is a deeply meaningful and moving time which holds great significance for the LGBTQIA+ community Pride helps everyone to feel welcome and valued in their community Events like our Pride parade bring people together raises awareness and shows that our town supports equality.  Celebrating Pride makes our community stronger and more inclusive for everyone The parade will start at 11:45am outside Easthampstead Works The parade will proceed through the town before finishing at midday in Bond Square A range of organisations will be at Pride to offer advice There will be a ‘quiet hour’ from 11am to midday where visitors can speak with these groups before acts take to the stage at midday BSL interpreters will be on hand for the performances located at the front right of the stage and facing the audience We are grateful to Specsavers for sponsoring the BSL interpretation The parade will follow a flat and accessible route It will follow a flat route that is suitable for people with disabilities and those who use mobility scooters and wheelchairs There will be a ‘quiet hour’ from 11am to midday without music or announcements There will also be a ‘chill zone’ which will feature bean bags and a space to take a break from the events Bracknell Forest Pride will take place on Saturday The Lexicon (between M&S and Waitrose) where visitors can speak with the support and advice organisations before acts take to the stage at midday The last performance will finish at around 7pm attendees can get their face painted and enjoy the party atmosphere Bracknell Forest Pride is free to enter and not ticketed the event can be noisy and there is limited shelter but we do ask that young children be supervised at all times This is an outdoor event so please dress appropriately for the weather conditions You are encouraged to wear as much colour and sparkle as you can There are several car parks, including accessible parking spaces, within easy reach of Bond Square. You can find further information about car parking on The Lexicon's parking page.  The Lexicon is easily reached by all forms of public transport Visible directional signage to the town centre and The Lexicon is available to follow from the train and bus station.Once you are in The Lexicon We will have a photographer and a videographer on-site to take photos and film the event.  These photos will be used for communications and marketing purposes by Bracknell Forest Council The Lexicon and other partners involved in running Pride along with local community groups and support organisations We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has dedicated their time and energy to support this event.  Special thanks to our lead sponsors, TD SYNNEX and Bracknell Town Council, and our event partner, The Lexicon Renowned bandleader Glenn Miller arrived in Britain shortly after the D-Day landings bringing with him the uplifting sounds of big band music that helped raise morale across wartime Europe.  his plane vanished over the English Channel Join historian Ray Smith for a compelling talk exploring how Miller’s music became a powerful force during the war and uncover a fascinating connection between his disappearance and the D-Day mission As we mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day service and sacrifice of all who fought for freedom To book, visit Eventbrite: Glenn Miller talk The Lexicon, owned in a joint venture between Schroders Capital and Legal & General Capital, has secured 23,039 sq ft of new retail, dining, and leisure lettings with Mango and Rituals among them.Headline act Mango has opened a 19,210 sq ft store The retailer bolsters the centre's fashion offer Bracknell Forest will soon welcome a number of Afghan families who’ve fled their homeland as part of a national resettlement scheme to provide safe and secure futures for people who have helped our military and government overseas Bracknell Forest Council has been made aware that initially around 300 people will be temporarily housed in the borough from this spring as part of a UK Government resettlement scheme.* The new families will be part of the national Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which was announced by the Defence Secretary in December 2024 The ARP offers relocation and resettlement to Afghan citizens Many of the families will have escaped a turbulent and traumatic life in their home country and will be looking to resettle in the UK permanently – either locally or elsewhere They have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK and are not illegal immigrants Whilst the Afghan families may wish to settle in the Bracknell Forest area Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) support the Afghans through a scheme called Find Your Own where Afghans will work with caseworkers to find an affordable and suitable property anywhere within England Wales or Northern Ireland - subject to availability Council tax and council funding will not directly pay for the scheme There is a standalone government funding tariff to support all new resettled Afghan arrivals to integrate into the UK and become self-sufficient Councils can claim a single tariff per arrival on the ARP – this will help us provide care support and create essential services like extra school places will be supporting our new residents with wrap around care so they can settle quickly feel welcome and can start contributing to our community and economy We are working with NHS Frimley and are developing an offer to support new patients in the area based on previous experience and Our new families will not all arrive at once instead they will initially arrive over the spring in three groups and can stay up to nine months in their transitional accommodation intended to be a settled housing solution and is provided as a safe interim solution while Afghan households are supported to find their own settled homes The new families will initially live in transitional accommodation contracted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) The council and its partners will not confirm or deny where this is or where the families will eventually find their settled accommodation We must respect their right to privacy and data protection and ensure they have a safe and secure start to their life in the UK We would kindly ask other residents not to pass on information speculating on where our new families are living in transitional or in settled accommodation in the future “We are working very closely with central government and the MOD to make sure that our new families arrive safely and have all the necessary support they need to thrive in their new lives in the UK supportive and caring to people who have experienced trauma and turbulence in their lives meaning they can no longer stay safely in their home country I ask all our residents to show our new families the kindness that we are so proud of and welcome them with dignity and respect “While this national resettlement scheme is being led by the MOD we need to play our part and offer a safe and secure home to our new Afghan residents who have all helped our military or government in some way I’m sure that with our usual courtesy and respect we will be able to help our new residents settle into life in the UK.”   many Afghans also worked with commitment and courage to support the UK mission in Afghanistan This includes members of Afghan specialist units who fought valiantly alongside UK personnel with some giving their lives and others suffering life-changing injuries.  Resettlement schemes are distinct from asylum as those eligible for assistance under these schemes include people who played a key role supporting Britain’s mission in Afghanistan We are unable to disclose where our new residents will be living for health and wellbeing reasons and to safeguard our new residents’ confidentiality This will not affect anyone on the housing list this is transitional accommodation under an official government resettlement scheme We are expecting our new residents from late spring The residents will be able to stay in their transitional accommodation for up to a maximum of nine months This is intended to provide time for families to acclimatise to life in the UK without dependency or incurring excessive costs the expectation is that they find alternative and more permanent accommodation We expect that a number of these people will remain in Bracknell Forest in the longer term but others may move to be closer to friends and family outside the borough *We are initially expecting 300 new people in spring 2025 as part of a rolling programme of support – additional residents are expected after that but we do not have details of when or how many We are expecting our new residents to be families with a number of children and young people in each family group Some families may also include other dependents and older relatives like grandparents The resettlement programme aims to help Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles and may include an offer of relocation to the UK for those deemed eligible by the MOD and who are deemed suitable for relocation by the Home Office The council is leading the local response including wrap-around care alongside its partners like the NHS we have not been at liberty to disclose information more widely Owing to some misinformation now circulating we are now sharing plans so that residents have a clearer understanding of what is happening but we ask residents to kindly take on board that this is a fast-moving project involving vulnerable people so the information we share will reflect that.  What do you want Bracknell Forest and its communities to look like in 25 years We’re inviting all residents to take part in our public consultations and help to shape the long-term vision for our community Your ideas and feedback will guide future decisions on housing and the local services that you use every day Chat with our councillors in person – Visit our stands to speak to local representatives and learn more about our vision for 2050 The planned online session for Tuesday 22 April has been cancelled We encourage all residents to take part and let us know what is most important to you Council Tax is a property based tax collected by Bracknell Forest Council The money goes towards funding council services such as: Council Tax is also spent on services provided by: It is not a direct payment for services and you need to pay whether you use these services or not the council is experiencing financial pressures that mean balancing the budget is increasingly challenging we are working hard to make sure we retain good and high-quality services for residents we consulted on draft budget proposals between December 2024 and January 2025 Hearing your views is a very important part of the budget setting process The council received just over 130 formal responses to the budget consultation Additional informal feedback was captured at public engagement sessions run by our councillors across the borough more than half of all respondents agreed or strongly agreed with all our budget proposals The consultation also showed strong support for our plans to invest an additional £2.7 million to repair and improve the borough’s roads and for our work in promoting independence for vulnerable adults The budget approved by Council on 26 February includes £8.4 million of capital investment in our assets This includes nearly £1 million on energy efficiency and environmental work that form part of our climate change action plan The budget also includes £250,000 revenue funding to support delivery of the action plan This reflects the council’s commitment to achieve Net Zero as close as possible to 2030 Our largest spending pressures are in services to support vulnerable adults Adult social care spending alone will increase by £6.5 million next year This and other pressures mean that Council Tax will be increasing by 4.99% we will remain in the lowest 10 per cent of unitary councils Working age households receiving Council Tax Support will once again see a reduction in their tax bill of £50 in 2025 to 2026 Other support is available for low-income households Anyone struggling to keep up with payments should contact our revenue services team who will be able to provide you with advice and support Your Council Tax bill is made up of 4 charges: This table shows the amount that will be charged for an average band D home depending on the parish area in the coming year These figures do not include any Council Tax relief you may be entitled to as a levying body for its Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Functions under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and the Environment Agency (Levies) (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 The Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood and coastal erosion risk management for 5,200 kilometres of main river and along tidal and sea defences in the area of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee The majority of funding for flood defence comes directly from the Department for Environment under the new Partnership Funding rule not all schemes will attract full central funding To provide local funding for local priorities and contributions for partnership funding the committee recommends through the Environment Agency a local levy Changes in the gross budgeted expenditure between years reflect the programme of works for both capital and revenue The total local levy raised has increased by 1.99% from £12.78 million in 2024 to 2025 to £13.03 million for 2025 to 2026 Every year the council delivers a wide range of services for people who live A revised organisational structure was introduced in September 2018 with the council now split into 3 main functional areas the directorate's services are focused on delivering the right support for all residents of Bracknell Forest and empowering them to get the best out of life It aims to provide the best possible opportunities for our young people by providing effective support and challenge to our schools and to keep everyone family and friends and able to access the right opportunities they need to thrive Another key outcome is to keep more families safely together and by providing the right support at the right time enable people to live as independently and well as possible Has responsibility for major contracts covering areas such as waste management and the provision of leisure facilities with our partner Everyone Active Also provides services directly to the public including customer and electoral services libraries and the cemetery and crematorium property management and ICT support services Responsible for providing strategic financial transformation and HR leadership to the council and support and advice to other directorates Leads on the place shaping of the borough dealing with both day-to-day and long-term planning transport planning and the ongoing regeneration of Bracknell town centre Aims to create a borough where the economy can thrive and sustainable growth is positively planned for This page contains information about the council’s spending on its day to day services and how this is to be paid for The council also needs to spend money called “capital” on maintaining its buildings (including schools construction works such as major road and school improvements and buying equipment The council’s programme of capital works has been developed to be affordable, sustainable and prudent, with projects being carefully prioritised to help achieve the 3 borough priorities included in the new Council Plan the council has developed a range of capital proposals and spending for next year is planned to be approximately £14.4 million of which £8.4 million will be funded directly by the council.  Some of the major projects in our programme include: £2.8 million on major works at primary and secondary schools £6.1 million on highways infrastructure maintenance and improvement  £4.4 million on maintaining and investing in council buildings When managing such a large budget we need to make sure we have enough money to cover any unexpected emergencies The amount of money we are using this year from balances which we already have “in the bank” to support the cost of our services Your parish council is the first tier of local government The elected members in each of Bracknell Forest’s 6 parishes work closely with community groups and Bracknell Forest Council to provide services relevant to each area They vary in size and population but each tailors its services and spending to its community Their work often includes local environmental work in parks and play areas provision of sports pitches and open spaces Some run community halls and services for young people and all give grants to help local groups All of them have staff who can help you with information on local groups and parish and borough-wide services Contact your parish council to learn more It is there to serve you and your local needs Your input helps it provide the right services for your parish This is the amount of money your local parish or town council requires to run services in that area Each individual parish precept for an average band D home is outlined in the table below If you need a reasonable adjustment to communicate with us Email: revenue.services@bracknell-forest.gov.uk The partnership that provides and oversees special educational needs and disability (SEND) services in Bracknell Forest has today promised to continue to make urgent and sustained improvements The recommitment to continued improvement from Bracknell Forest Council and NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB), follows an inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2025. The inspection report was published on 1 April The partnership apologises and recognises that urgent additional improvements need to be made They also recognise that the local SEND system does not have sufficient school places and acknowledges the impact this has on meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND A number of positive steps have been made by the local area partnership in providing improved services including:   Inspectors recognised these improvements and noted several other areas of strength In addition to the areas of strength recognised by the inspectors several areas for improvement were also identified:    The partnership is now implementing urgent actions to improve services which will be developed with children cabinet member for children and young people I would like to offer my sincerest and profound apologies to those children and young people with SEND and their families in Bracknell Forest who have not been receiving the services they need and deserve I regret the upset caused by the issues raised in this report and I apologise unreservedly on behalf of the council The inspectors have conducted a thorough review of the local area’s SEND services We accept their findings without reservation “While we have made some positive and important strides in the past couple of years in improving our SEND services for children and young people we need to continue our sustained efforts to ensure all children and young people with SEND and their families feel confident their voice is being heard and acknowledged “I am confident that the local area partnership will deliver a significantly improved level of service “We want the best possible start to life for all our children and young people and so we know we must continue with our improvement plans so they get the right We are absolutely determined in our commitment to improve.” “Supporting children and young people is a priority for the Frimley Health and Care Integrated Care System We will continue to strengthen our partnerships to prioritise actions and improve services for children and young people and their families.”  A monitoring inspection will be carried out in around 18 months and the local area partnership is required to prepare and submit an action plan to address the identified areas for priority action The 2025 to 2026 budget for Bracknell Forest Council has been agreed with £105.59 million allocated to every day and frontline services and £14.3 million on large-scale improvement projects The council’s budget was agreed by councillors on 26 February following a public consultation where more than 130 people gave their feedback the council is experiencing financial pressure and so balancing the budget is increasingly challenging The agreed budget aims to protect services for our most vulnerable residents and make sure we retain good and high-quality frontline services The budget is split into two - revenue budget and capital budget: The revenue budget covers day-to-day spending In 2025 to 2026 £105.59 million will be available in this budget The capital budget covers spending on council ‘assets’ In 2025 to 2026 £14.3 million is earmarked for capital projects Key capital projects next year will include: the revenue budget will pay for things like: More than £85 million of the council’s revenue budget funding comes from council tax this year a 4.99% council tax rise has been agreed the increase is around £1.55 a week (excluding town and parish council costs) cabinet member for finance and business change “We know it’s never welcome news that council tax is increasing but given the squeeze on our finances from years of government under funding and increasing service cost and demand “If we don’t increase council tax then we can’t provide all the essential services our residents rely on like social care “We know some people will struggle with this increase and so we are providing further council tax discounts to people in financial hardship.” To balance the books some discretionary services will be reduced next year we are in a better financial position than most other local authorities and there is no immediate risk of bankruptcy or financial intervention we have still had to make difficult budget decisions Our priority remains to protect essential and critical services for our most vulnerable residents for example social care and homelessness.  This is why creating balanced draft budget plans has been particularly difficult; we’ve had to look very carefully at what we can spend money on and where we may need to make savings.” If you compare the council’s budget to a household budget the revenue budget would pay for things like gas The capital budget would pay for something like an extension or new driveway A proportion of the council tax residents pay goes to the relevant town or parish council for where you live It also pays for services provided by the Police and Crime Commissioner of the Thames Valley and the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority.  You can read the full budget papers.  Council tax bills will be sent directly to residents over the coming weeks You can also read about council tax support.  The council is aware that there is information circulating regarding the ownership and sale of The Lexicon We are committed to working with any commercial partner for the benefit and success of our town centre.  cabinet member for economy and regeneration “We are not involved in the possible sale of The Lexicon and so cannot comment on that any further.  the council is committed to working with commercial partners for the good of our town centre and the benefit it brings to our residents and wider economy.  “The town centre is a popular and thriving regional retail and leisure destination that has strong footfall and continues to attract new shops and businesses.   “It is an important part of the town centre’s overall regeneration but it is just one part of it Any sale would not impact the council’s own regeneration plans for the Southern Gateway Eastern Gateway and High Street car park areas This next phase of regeneration is an exciting opportunity to provide new shops and a range of housing to benefit our whole community." The council does not own the area previously earmarked for The Deck Our regeneration plans relate to land that the council owns and has control over People who live or work in the borough can have their say on our draft equality objectives for 2025 to 2029 The objectives outline how the council aims to prevent discrimination and improve outcomes for disadvantaged groups They also explain how the council works to improve community relations and manages issues like racism and intolerance The proposed objectives for 2025 to 2029 are: and other interested parties on how the council can improve equality and tackle areas where it is lacking. We’re committed to transparency and hearing the views of residents and I’d encourage as many people as possible to have their say before 5 May by completing our online survey.” If you need a reasonable adjustment to complete the consultation Thursday 8 May 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemorating the victory of Britain and the Allies over Nazi Germany in Europe.  VE Day honours the service and sacrifice of those who fought in the Second World War The 80th anniversary provides an opportunity for everyone to hear the experiences of veterans Events will take place across the country to mark this significant anniversary A variety of events will be held across Bracknell Forest to celebrate and commemorate this historic day Binfield Parish Council has organised a series of events to mark VE Day in the coming weeks and months entertainment and community stalls will be held from midday until 5pm Visitors are encouraged to dress up in 1940s outfits or red Volunteers are needed! Please email office@binfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk for more information Food and drink will be available to purchase The Binfield British Legion is 100 years old in 2025 At 9:30am a military parade will begin the day Bracknell Library will host a free eco-craft event on Saturday 10 May from 10am to 11:30am The library is hosting a talk about Glenn Miller and the role of music in World War II. Historian Ray Smith will lead this fascinating event on Monday 12 May from 10.30am to 11.30am. Learn more and reserve your space on Eventbrite: Glenn Miller: the role of music in WWII and his disappearance in 1944 Tickets, Mon, May 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite The Bracknell Royal British Legion (RBL) will be in the town centre selling poppies and engaging with the community.  A civic ceremonial event will take place on the evening of Thursday 8 May from 8:30pm to 9:45pm.  It will begin with a parade by the Bracknell RBL at 8:20pm proceeding through the town and ending in Bond Square.  The Brackenhale Combined Cadet Force will join the parade which will be welcomed by the Vocalese choir.  At 9:30pm attendees will join the rest of the nation in lighting a VE Day Beacon and a Lamplight of Peace.  The ceremony will feature reflections and celebration including a special dance performance by Eliba Dance School Members of the public are invited to attend A day of activity is planned at the Royal British Legion (RBL) Crowthorne club VE Day 80 pins will be available for purchase at the club in advance and on the day The day begins at 9am as the VE Day 80 ceremonial flag is raised A tea dance will be held from 3pm to 5:30pm with local favourite performer Tickets are available from the club and are £7 for members and £9 for non-members This event is free to club members aged 80 and over You must show proof of age and membership card Fish and chips were one of the very few meals not rationed during the Second World War A supper will be served from 6pm to 8pm to remember this Tickets are £12.50 and it is recommended to book in advance through the club The day will finish with a ceremony at 9:30pm to light the Lamplight of Peace and sing ‘I vow to thee my country’ VE Day falls on Thursday 8 May. However, communities and organisations are encouraged to use the bank holiday on Monday 5 May to come together and enjoy ‘The Great British Food Festival’.  Local communities can join the nationwide Great British Food Festival on Monday 5 May by holding street parties cooking up a BBQ or fry up with your neighbours The Great British Food Festival is a joint initiative by The /Together Coalition and the Department for Culture Media and Sport It aims to celebrate our freedom and to bring different communities together through food and recipes Funding is available for these events through The National Lottery Community Fund From small gatherings with family and friends to larger community events you can plan your own VE Day event at home The council is currently developing its 10 year strategy to shape physical activity This supports the Strategic Outcomes Planning Guidance diagnostic that was developed in March 2023 We invited residents to help shape our new physical activity sports and leisure strategy by completing a short survey that asked: A draft strategy is expected by March 2025