Opposition determined to challenge Tories

A report, commissioned by the managing director of RBWM, of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) has revealed that the Borough had ‘a poor officer culture and lack of physical capacity and capability coupled with dominant members. This led to no appropriate challenge or recognition that challenge is a good thing’.

The leader of the opposition, Cllr Simon Werner (Lib Dem, Pinkneys Green) and the opposition finance lead Cllr Lynne Jones (Independent, Old Windsor) are determined to co-ordinate that challenge to the current administration. Together we have succeeded in holding the Conservatives to account on finance and governance standards, family hubs ‘transformation’, and residents’ parking zone charges.

We have Lib Dems and independents working together on climate change, infrastructure, and a host of other borough wide challenges.

We try and communicate the ideas we generate to the relevant Conservative lead councillors, with varying degrees of success.

Add in our sincere desire to involve community groups on bio-diversity protection, neighbourhood plans, flood defences and what emerges is a model of how the Borough can be more effectively governed in future.

Committed, passionate representatives, close to their communities but also able to share a broader vision for us all. That is the kind of council we all want for our residents.

Cllr SIMON WERNER and Cllr LYNNE JONES