It’s that time again, where we think back to the year just gone and look to the year ahead. While many will look to the New Year as a time for celebration and hope, it is a worrying time for some, and it seems that a great deal of uncertainty faces us in 2025.
The UK economy is not in a healthy state. Already under the new Labour Government we have seen stagnation, with no growth at all. Inflation, which was coming down under the Conservatives, is now going back up again under Labour. People and businesses are being clobbered by increases in National Insurance and changes to Inheritance Tax.
The prospects for us in Wokingham Borough are not good either. Just before Christmas, senior Council officers said that the Government intends to cut the Council’s funding by £1 million. This means an even greater burden on residents, with Council Tax making up more of the already high proportion of the local authority’s income.
The draft Local Plan for future housing will be examined in public by the Planning Inspector in 2025. The Conservatives refused to support this Plan, which was approved by the Liberal Democrats and some Labour councillors, because we believe the housing numbers are unsustainable and are in the wrong place. We will continue to do what we can to make the case that this Plan is not the right one and is not what our communities want.
There are troubles abroad too, and like many of you I will be hoping for peace in 2025.
Unusually, there won’t be any elections in May in 2025. However, in early February, there will be a Council by-election in Winnersh. We are hoping to build on our success at the end of 2024, where our fantastic local champion Jackie Rance won a seat from Labour in Shinfield. If you are a resident in Winnersh ward, please make sure that you vote and make your voice heard.
Wherever you are and however you’re celebrating, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of Wokingham Conservatives
