Councillor Clive Hooker, the new chairman, was a magistrate for more than 30 years. The chairman role is the formal representative of West Berkshire Council. As well as chairing council meetings they officiate at civic functions and welcome distinguished visitors of national and international significance on behalf of the district. Cllr Hooker, who represents Downlands ward, was appointed to the role at West Berkshire Council’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 6. The new chairman said: “It’s an honour to have been elected as chairman. I’m looking forward to the year ahead and, Covid permitting, getting out and about to attend local events on behalf of the council.
West Berkshire Council WEST Berkshire Council (WBC) is looking for a new chief executive and the successful candidate could earn about £165,000 in the role. The search has started for a new chief executive to lead the council following a decision by the current chief executive, Nick Carter, to retire in August after 23 years with the council. The new chief executive will join WBC at a time when it is planning a post-Covid recovery and looking to shape the district to seize the benefits and tackle the challenges that the changes over the past twelve months have brought with it. The council is looking for someone who is a visionary, ambitious individual to deliver the aspirations of the council – including on economic growth, employment opportunities, protecting the most vulnerable and providing safe towns.
The chief executive of West Berkshire Council has announced plans to retire in August after 16 years in the role.
Nick Carter spent seven years with the council as head of corporate policy and director of strategy and resources before taking the top post. Before joining West Berkshire he spent eight years with Swindon BC heading the policy unit.
Leader Lynne Doherty (Con) said: “Although we are not losing Nick quite yet, I would like to express my sincere thanks to him for everything he has done for the council and our communities over the past two decades.”
She said Mr Carter’s successor would help the district’s recovery from coronavirus, continue its transformation programme and help shape the area’s development.
Emergency services on the scene after a boy, 3, and his mother fell into a canal in Newbury on Saturday, March 13 West Berkshire Council is looking at “how future incidents could be prevented” after a three-year-old boy died following a tragic canal fall in Newbury. The boy and his mother were rescued from the Kennet & Avon Canal, near a weir, at around 2pm on Saturday, March 13, and taken to hospital. The boy died later in hospital. Thames Valley Police has not confirmed the circumstances around the incident, but said the death is being treated as “unexplained but not suspicious”. Over 2,000 people have since signed a petition calling for West Berkshire Council to set up “a strong barrier” at that section of the canal “to prevent accidents like this happening in the future”.
The Easter school holiday runs from April 1 to April 16, 2021. The voucher scheme is being funded primarily through the £96,955 recently allocated to West Berkshire from the extended Covid winter grant allowance provided by the government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The council is topping up this allocation with an additional £12,415 to cover the full expected cost of implementation. Details on how the vouchers will be implemented are being issued to schools and early year settings. Children in school not currently receiving FSMs but considered by the school as vulnerable will be included. Consideration will also be given to children aged between 16 and 18 years, and children in cross border education settings.