On Thursday, March 20, the council met to discuss its budget for the year ahead, and set the council tax rates, once again an increase of the maximum 4.99%.
Listening to the Conservatives, you would think that the council tax increases had only happened since the Liberal Democrats took control of Wokingham Borough three years ago.
Speech after speech condemned them for not providing value for money, not providing vision, not innovating, and tinkering around the edges. Conservatives’ leader Pauline Jorgensen said she could have given the same speech as last year as residents have been ignored, the Lib Dems have been wasting money wherever they can, and the party lacked ambition.
The Lib Dems repeated much of what they said last year: making some dubious claims that the government income was down when it has actually been increased, giving Wokingham Borough more spending power.
They also said difficult financial times meant they had to find efficiencies to deliver a balanced budget for the borough.
To be honest, you’ve heard it all before.
Especially the complaints over schemes such as California Crossroads, the much-delayed Carnival Pool flats and timely delivery of new SEND schools. The Tories would like you to think these projects and delays were all the fault of the Lib Dems, but the harsh reality is this is just nonsense.
The California Crossroads project was instigated by the Conservative administration. Pressure on SEND places has been building for years and the previous Conservative-run council’s inaction has led us to the situation we are in now.
This ridiculous Punch and Judy politics helps no one. Councillor after councillor took to their feet to either praise their party’s work or condemn their opposite number.
You deserve better.
And you certainly don’t deserve the prospect of an Elon Musk-type figure coming into the Shute End offices running a DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) style raid on council departments that provide vital lifelines to our residents. Far-fetched? Not according to one councillor, who appeared to advocate this approach if the Conservatives were back in charge.
Your Labour councillors, on the other hand, took a different approach.
Our leader, Councillor Rachel Burgess, took time to thank officers for their hard work in preparing this year’s budget and reminded the chamber that the situation all councils find themselves in is directly due to the 14 years of austerity under the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.
We know there is no quick fix for the funding crunch facing all local authorities. It is disingenuous of the Conservatives to suggest otherwise, while it is disingenuous of the Lib Dems to incorrectly claim that grant funding has been reduced by £1m when it is simply not true.
According to the House of Commons Library, Wokingham’s Core Spending Power is set to rise by 6% for 2025-26. Even after accounting for inflation, that’s still a real terms increase of 3.4%.
Labour also submitted its petition, signed by more than 2,000 residents, calling for a rethink over plans to start charging in car parks such as Cantley Park. It was telling that earlier in the evening, the Executive could not completely rule out introducing these fees in the future. A debate will be held at a forthcoming council meeting, and you can be sure Labour will advocate for residents.
Why? Because this is what Labour does. Stand up for residents and not make wild promises or try and pass off our work as someone else’s just because it makes a convenient half-truth to put on leaflets.
Across the year, you’ll see us in action: litter picking, cleaning road signs, knocking on doors, and taking action for you. We’ll stand up for every corner of the borough, always put residents first, and we’ll make sensible, considered contributions to debates. After all, it’s you we answer to.
Cllr Andrew Gray is Labour councillor for Shinfield on Wokingham Borough Council
