New leader pledges to do his ‘very best’

IN HIS first speech as leader of Wokingham Borough Council, Cllr Clive Jones said he will do his “very best” to serve all residents in the borough.

Cllr Jones was confirmed as the new council leader at an executive meeting on Thursday, May 19, after Cllr John Halsall resigned from the position following the recent local elections.

For the first time in more than 20 years, Wokingham councillors have approved a Liberal Democrat-run administration.

The Liberal Democrats have agreed a partnership with Labour and the two independent councillors to form a working majority called the Wokingham Borough Partnership.

After being elected, Cllr Jones said: “I would like to thank all my colleagues, including the members of the Wokingham Borough Partnership, for giving me the honour of being the leader of the council.

“They have placed enormous trust in me, and I will do my very best to serve all the residents of the borough in a professional, effective, and efficient manner. “

Cllr Jones said he has a vision for the future but admits there are “considerable challenges” facing the borough.

He said: “Now, more than ever, is the time for grown-up politics, which puts the interests of our residents and businesses above party political point scoring.

“The challenges the borough faces are great. The cost-of-living crisis is hitting individuals, families, and businesses here in Wokingham.

“The government has imposed an unsustainable new housing allocation on the borough, which greatly exceeds local need.

“A climate emergency requires urgent action, not just to protect us here and now, but for the security of our children and our children’s children.

“Meanwhile, ministers are putting the council’s finances under intense pressure with an enormous bill looming for their social care reforms and new rules that require us to put aside more money to cover the financing of investment assets and capital loans.”

Cllr Jones says the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation will impact the council and what it can do over the next 12 months.

He said: “The major financial challenges faced by the council necessarily mean that we will need to work hard to ensure the council is on a firm financial footing.

“There are many things – low cost but high impact – that we would like to pursue.

“How many of them will be feasible depends on the financial legacy left to us by the previous administration.”

Despite these challenges, Cllr Jones is determined to show that the Liberal Democrat administration is worthy of residents’ trust.

He said: “Our new Lib Dem administration will seek to make the council more open and more inclusive, as well as financially sound.

“We have a vision of a caring, listening, responsive council, and we will happily work in partnership alongside anyone else who shares that vision.

“Above all, we will never forget that we are here to serve the people of the borough. They have put their faith in us.

“We are determined to show that we are worthy of the trust.”