Labour candidate Nick Fox said: “Representing your residents is an honour and privilege. “It shouldn’t be treated as a stepping stone for anything. It’s about focusing on your residents’ needs not your own personal advancement.” Conservative candidate Phil Cunnington said: “I’ll leave it for others to decide whether Jane wants to get elected to represent the people in Norreys ward or just to progress her political career via this ‘stepping stone’. “For me, my whole focus is upon Norreys and improving things for the community and its wellbeing.” Jane Ainslie However, Ms Ainslie insists she was referring to the role of councillor when she described “a role with a bigger impact”.
Here are the Labour candidates who are competing for seats on Wokingham Borough Council:
Andy Croy, Bulmershe and Whitegates
Andy Croy, Labour candidate for Bulmershe & Whitegates ward.
Cllr Andy Croy has served as a councillor for Bulmershe and Whitegates, and is the leader of the Wokingham Labour party. Cllr Croy grew up on a council estate in Wokingham, served in the reserve Forces and taught in Sudan and Kenya before changing career to become an accountant. He has one grown up son who, like Andy, was educated at The Forest School, Winnersh. For two years Andy was the only Labour councillor in the borough chamber, but now leads a group of four Labour councillors. The party is seeking to gain more seats to provide ‘real opposition’ to the Conservatives who dominate the Council.
Photo taken by Emma Sheppard The Liberal Democrats are looking to take control of Wokingham Borough Council at this year’s local election. The party currently holds 16 seats on the Conservative-run council and there will be 18 seats up for grabs at this year’s election, which will be held on May 6. Last year’s election was postponed by the coronavirus pandemic, but people are being assured it will be safe to head to the polls in 2021. Three Lib Dem councillors – Lindsay Ferris, Clive Jones and Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey – will be standing for re-election. The party have nominated 14 candidates to compete for seats on the council and they are due to nominate another to stand in Finchampstead South.
Cllr Emma Hobbs and Cllr Chris Bowering backed the increase at the meeting on March 9 Taxi drivers working in Wokingham struggling to earn a living during the Covid-19 pandemic will have to pay an extra £42 over the next year for their licence.
Wokingham Borough Council has decided to increase the fee for hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences from £248 to £290 in 2020/21. Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors called for the fees to be frozen at £248 during a meeting of the council’s Licensing Committee on March 9. But the Conservatives refused, after stating the hiked fees will be used to cover the council’s administrative costs and taxi drivers have been offered grants and other support.
People in Wokingham hit with council tax increase PEOPLE in Wokingham have been hit with a council tax increase.
Wokingham Borough Council has approved plans for a 4.99 per cent hike in 2021/22, meaning people living in Band D properties will see their annual bill rise to £1,620.14. According to the Conservative-run council, 3 per cent of that increase will generate income that can only be spent on caring for elderly and vulnerable adults in Wokingham. Additional precepts that raise money for the Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue and your local parish council will also be added to that bill. The increase was approved by a majority verdict, after the ruling Tories said they need it because the cost of providing council services continues to rise but funding from central government has dried up.