By Cllr Clive Jones
We can do more together than we can do separately
The new administration at Wokingham Borough Council is very much aware that we need to work in a partnership of equals with a wide variety of external bodies if our residents and businesses are to be properly supported and the borough is to continue to be a great place to live and work.
Over the last few months, we have been trying to develop, strengthen, and in some cases repair relationships with external partners.
This emphasis on partnerships is especially relevant to the way we handle the current cost of living crisis.
Members of the executive of leading councillors have been working with senior council officers to develop our involvement with the Hardship Alliance of local voluntary and charitable bodies to help to mobilize and coordinate efforts to address the local impact of the crisis.
As the council, like our residents, is feeling the pinch financially – with double-digit inflation, rising demand for services and significant shortfalls in anticipated income, and poor budgeting from the previous administration – we are not in a position to give the Alliance as much financial support as we would have liked.
Even so, we have managed to find resource to fund free school dinners during school holidays for children who in term-time would have received them.
We have also tried to make as generous as we can the rescheduling of council tax and council rents for those who are in difficulties. We will be striving to keep next year’s rent rise for existing council tenants as low as we can.
But, recognising the limits of what we can do on our own, much of our effort is being channelled into working with others.
We are doing our bit to mobilize resources in a joint effort to help those in our community who are most vulnerable to the pressures created by the current Cost of living crisis.
To this end, a fund is being set up to facilitate donations from businesses, charities, and individuals. We will release details soon of how you can support this initiative.
Our work in the Hardship Alliance is an example of the benefits that can come from effective partnerships.
We will be looking to learn the very positive lessons of working with others on common objectives.
We can do so much more together than we can achieve on our own.
Cllr Clive Jones is the leader of Wokingham Borough Council and Lib Dem member for Hawkedon ward
