Wokingham Today has reached out to all political parties with candidates standing in the forthcoming local elections. Every party has been offered the opportunity to provide a manifesto-style column to appeal to voters, and over the next week will be publishing those received. Today, it’s the turn of Labour.
“Good local government requires an effective and constructive opposition to hold the ruling party to account and to ensure the council acts in the interests of residents. Effective opposition is not simply screaming about every decision. Effective opposition involves an acknowledgement that the council’s officers will get many things right but the political leadership may get some things wrong.
Labour councillors on Wokingnam borough council have a track record of effective and constructive opposition to both Conservative and LibDem administrations, but never opposition for the sake of opposition.
As part of Labour’s constructive opposition, Labour councillors chair two council committees.
Rachel Burgess chairs the audit committee and Andrew Gray chairs children’s services overview and scrunity committee. In these roles, Labour councillors hold officers to account while avoiding the political histrionics that is sometimes confused with opposition.
At the same time, Labour councillors will continue to fiercely defend the principle of free car parking at Cantley Park in Wokingham and Ashenbury Park in Woodley, both of which still face the threat of a Dinton-style charging structure.
Our councillors have a long track record of standing up for residents in newer communities where issues on non-adoption of infrastructure and rip off management fees continue to plague communities.
At the ward level, Labour councillors have an unrivalled reputation for working hard to make their wards a better place to live for their residents. From volunteering with Community Speedwatch, to clearing up litter and graffiti, through to working to get safer walking routes, you will find Labour councillors rolling up their sleeves and getting on with the job in ways that make a real difference to our communities.
Our candidates will never, ever, offer you glib and easy solutions.
We know that residents expect councillors to work hard for them – and that is what we do.”
