Conservative-run West Berkshire Council independently recognised as the best overall performing local authority; in top ten for value for money; has kept Council Tax low year on year.
The Conservatives have launched their manifesto for the local council elections urging voters to back them once again — and keep West Berkshire Council as the best performing local authority.
West Berkshire Council has been independently recognised by Money.co.uk as the best of 304 authorities for overall performance and in the top ten for value for money.
Cllr Dominic Boeck (Aldermaston) introduced the manifesto for the West Berkshire local elections in Thatcham. He said:
“Conservatives are proud to stand on their record. At West Berkshire Council, we are providing excellent local services that improve the everyday lives of people, while having among the lowest council tax rises in the whole of England. And our council has been widely and independently recognised as a high performing authority. Our hardworking team hopes to continue this after May 4th.”
Highlights of the Conservative-run administration over the past four years include:
- Good schools: 94% of our schools are rated good or outstanding, and 98% of children going to a school of their choice;
- Investment in roads: Resurfacing 93 miles of road and investing £57 million on improvements to our highways;
- Supporting vulnerable people: Distributing more than £10 million to vulnerable households through the Cost of Living Support Hub;
- Jobs and skills for young people: The number of young people not in employment, education, or training now at 1.7%, the lowest rate in all Berkshire authorities.
The 2023 manifesto sets out how the Conservatives will build on this success in the coming four years — and make West Berkshire an even better place to live and grow, work and learn. It centres on five promises:
- To care for vulnerable people such as by giving children in care high levels of support and helping older people remain in their own homes for longer;
- To protect our environment such as by caring for the countryside and protecting communities from flooding;
- To strengthen our communities such as by making sure every child has access to a place in a good or outstanding school and investing in leisure facilities such as the Monks Lane Sports Hub, Newbury Lido, and new football pitches (including at John O’Gaunt in Hungerford);
- To be open for business such as by advancing regeneration plans for Newbury, Thatcham, Hungerford and Theale and investing in the rural economy by backing rural business;
- To deliver services for the future such as by investing to generate income, by providing high quality jobs and harnessing technology to deliver more tailored services even more efficiently.
Cllr Lynne Doherty, Leader of West Berkshire Council, led the manifesto launch. She said:
“Our council provides more than 700 different services that improve our everyday lives and neighbourhoods such as clean streets, good schools and safe roads as well as longer term local planning and economic development strategy.
“We consistently delivered our services well despite a very challenging four years. We kept the promises we made at the last local election, we dealt with the pandemic and helped our communities when they needed it, and our finances are in a good state. We hope people across West Berkshire will give us their vote again in May and together we can build an even more prosperous and safe West Berkshire.”