WOKINGHAM now has a ‘really, really strong group’ of Labour councillors according to its leader, Cllr Rachel Burgess.
At the 2023 local elections, her party won two seats in Norreys and Shinfield North and held Bulmershe and Whitegates. They also came within 45 votes of scooping Loddon ward.
They now have five seats in the council chamber, their highest-ever total.
Cllr Burgess was delighted with the result.
“Thank you to everyone that voted Labour, we are really, really pleased,” she said. “We’ve got a really good strong group who will work on behalf of all the residents in our wards.
“I’m really looking forward to getting going.”
For the past year, Wokingham Borough Council has been governed by the ruling partnership – an agreement between the Lib Dems, Labour and originally the two independent councillors. This enabled the Lib Dems to form a ruling executive, while Labour and the independents could chair scrutiny committees.
The council remains under no overall control and the Lib Dems could need a similar arrangement this municipal year. Will Labour be party to that?
“I need to talk to my new group,” Cllr Burgess said. “We’ve always said we will look to find agreement with other parties – we’re not going to look for disagreement.
“We will see how things go.”
