Council pays tribute to councillors stepping down at local elections
THE Mayor of Reading is among the councillors who will be stepping down after this May’s local elections.
First elected in 1973, Cllr Tony Page has served as the borough’s first citizen for the past year, bringing to an end 51 years’ service to the community.
He was presented with a Pride of Reading award last autumn in recognition of his dedication to the town.
During the past year, he has been able to open Green Park Station, Rivermead Leisure Centre, affordable apartments at Arthur Hill Pool site and, earlier this month, Reading West station ticket building.
Also stepping back is Cllr Jason Brock, the leader of the council.
Their service to Reading was acknowledged at a full council meeting held last week, the last before the May 2 poll.
Paying tribute to Cllr Page, Cllr Brock (Labour, Southcote) said: “I marvel at how much you must have seen over the past 50 years on this council, and the legacy of your work can be found in every corner of this town.
“Residents are always full of praise for the myriad matters you have helped them with over the years.
“Giants of your sort are a rare thing in local politics and Reading has been extremely lucky to have you.”
Cllr Page, praising Cllr Brock said: “I was impressed by the assiduous and very dedicated work that you did during the covid crisis. You took to that challenge, and we will all be grateful as an authority.”
Cllr Clarence Mitchell (Conservative, Emmer Green) thanked Cllr Brock for his ‘good nature’ during their political sparring matches, particularly over the council’s budget.
Addressing Cllr Page, he said: “You are nothing short of an institution in Reading, I’m not saying you should be in one. You are a titan of the politics here, you have crafted and created the town as we know it.
“You will be a loss to Reading, and very much a loss to the council.”
Cllr James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said to
Cllr Brock: “I was genuinely sad when I saw the announcement you were stepping down, but I hope we can go for a beer at some point and have a nice chat.”
Councillors Sue Kitchingham (Labour, Caversham Heights) and Liam Challenger (Labour, Katesgrove) are also stepping back.
Cllr Brock first spoke about Cllr Kitchingham’s election in 2022, winning what had previously been a Conservative seat.
“Since then, Sue has been a diligent and hardworking councillor, especially in her ward and on the licensing committee,” he said.
“We will all miss her endearing laugh and her calm composure.”
Cllr Challenger was elected in 2018 and 2022.
In his tribute, Cllr Brock said: “Across those six years he has been a grafter in his community and has pushed a great number of projects to fruition, quite especially around Katesgrove’s parks and open spaces, and more than a few efforts to get troublesome areas of the ward cleaned up.”
The retirements mean that there will be four new councillors in the chamber following the local elections, even if Labour retain all four seats.
Former Conservative Cllr David Stevens, who defected to Labour, will stand to replace Cllr Page in Abbey ward for Labour.
Navjit Kaur Gill is the Labour nominee to replace Cllr Challenger in Katesgrove, facing a challenge from Green candidate Kate Nikulina.
Labour candidates for Southcote and Caversham Heights are not currently known.