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.
Furious councillors walk out in protest at West Berkshire Council budget meeting
Opposition leader Lee Dillon accused Conservatives of trying to silence them
Jonathan Ashby
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A WEST Berkshire Council meeting descended into chaos last night after the opposition Liberal Democrat and Green councillors virtually stormed out in protest at debating time being cut short.
Leader of the opposition Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham North East) called on his councillors to leave the meeting after he and others were blocked from speaking on amendments to the Conservative-led council’s revenue budget.
The three Green councillors then followed suit, meaning neither opposition party voted on the final revenue budget, which saw council tax rise by 1.99 per cent.
Light the darkness on Holocaust Memorial Day, says West Berkshire Council
UK s official memorial ceremony to be livestreamed on Wednesday
Charlie Masters );
West Berkshire Council has issued a statement supporting Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) tomorrow (Wednesday).
While pandemic restrictions prevent organisers from staging a public ceremony in Newbury, the programme is being moved online.
In addition, the council encourages local people to mark the event in their own homes.
A spokesperson says: HMD encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide, to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi Persecution and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.