Keith Baker, newly elected Wokingham Borough Mayor and Abdul Loyes, Deputy Mayor. Credit: Pauline Jorgensen
A new mayor, deputy mayor and executive has been appointed at a full meeting of Wokingham Borough Council. Councillor Keith Baker, who has served on the council since 2006, was elected Mayor of Wokingham Borough yesterday (Thursday, May 20). Cllr Baker said: “Being the first citizen of the borough is an amazing honour, which very few councillors actually achieve, and I am extremely humbled to become one of this small group. “In many respects I’m quite old fashioned, in that I believe being mayor is something you earn through your contribution to public life, and not simply because it’s your turn.
The plan had been objected to by Wokingham Town Council. Town councillor Abby Tebborth raised concerns at the meeting about odour from the sewage works, flood risk, the impact on local infrastructure such as GPS and the loss of open space. Jessica Sparkes, representing David Wilson Homes, said it would not be in their interest to progress on a site if there were issues with odour, denying it would be an issue, and said a large amount of open space would be retained. Council officers suggested smells would be an issue in just a small area for just a few days a year and said: “There is not much you can do about that”.