By Cllr Anne Thompson
Back in May I sat with over a dozen newly elected councillors at briefings on the structure of Reading Borough Council, the challenges facing Reading, the system for raising residents’ concerns and so on.
It was a deluge of valuable information, for which I’m very grateful, and I’ve continued to learn ‘on the job’ ever since.
The most memorable piece of information from those briefings – that Reading resembles a London borough in terms of its complexities far more than it resembles its neighbouring towns.
Areas of considerable deprivation sit alongside areas of affluence.
This means it’s especially important for councillors to scrutinise policies and their implementation. This work is done at meetings of the Council and its committees.
For a newbie opposition councillor, that’s a lot of reading Council papers and getting advice and info from colleagues and Council officers.
What have I found most surprising about Council and committee meetings? The frequent lack of discussion. I think this is partly a result of the set procedures for meetings.
For example, matters cannot be raised that are not already on the agenda. When we found out via a newspaper article on October 29 that RBC had dropped holiday food vouchers for the lowest income families, I could not raise it at the Policy Committee two days later as it was too late even for an emergency agenda item.
Another reason for the lack of discussion is that Labour has a comfortable majority in Reading. They don’t need to develop policies with opposition councillors, as they can vote everything through themselves.
But broader input would surely lead to better policies. That’s a challenge to us Lib Dems (and the other opposition parties) to get more councillors elected.
The Council also hosts a number of forums, attended by residents as well as councillors. In contrast to the formal committees, I’ve found meetings of the Access and Disability Forum, for example, a good place to explore ideas and discuss policy changes.
What I enjoy most, though, about being a councillor is working with the residents of Tilehurst. People come to us when they’ve exhausted other avenues to get things done. It may be something simple like asking the Council to install a litter bin outside the shops or something that appears simple but turns out not to be – why is there no halo lighting at the crossing near the petrol station on School Road?
Because the poles are the wrong kind (and it’s too expensive to replace them). But at least the crossing now has bright new Belisha beacons.
Other issues are more complex – planning and construction for one. I urge residents to read planning consultation notices when they pop up in their neighbourhoods. Have a look at the plans in detail online (or at the Council offices) and if you’re not happy about them, file an objection.
If you’re in Tilehurst, contact me or one of your other local councillors for advice on how to do this.
Once planning permission has been granted, it’s too late to make changes, as residents whose homes and gardens are dwarfed by a new church know to their cost.
Dealing with anti-social behaviour has turned out to be a slow burn, and is often frustrating. I’m impressed by the determination of residents to tackle motorbike nuisance on the Meadway Rec and have done what I can to support them.
The police are desperately short-staffed after years of cuts, but if they can identify the culprits, they will step in and confiscate the bikes.
Cllr Anne Thompson is a Lib Dem councillor for Tilehurst ward
