READING Borough Council has laid out its proposed administration for the upcoming municipal year.
The council has now laid out who will take which roles in the upcoming administration.
After securing council control for 2023/2024, Cllr Tony Page was put forward to succeed Cllr Rachel Eden in the role of mayor of Reading.
It has also already announced that Cllr Liz Terry will take over as the deputy leader of the council, and is also set to remain in her role as lead councillor for Corporate Services and Resources.
Cllr Paul Gittus has been selected to replace Cllr John Ennis in the post of lead councillor for Adult Social Care, with Cllr Ennis taking up the role of lead cllr for Climate Strategy and Transport from Cllr Page.
Cllr Graeme Hoskin is tipped to remain as lead cllr for Children’s Services, while Cllr Ruth McEwan will remain in her post at Education and Public Health.
Cllr Karen Rowland will also remain in her post as lead of Environmental Service and Community Safety, with Cllr Ellie Emberson also remaining as lead for Housing.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward will remain as lead cllr for Leisure and Culture, and Cllr Micky Leng will remain as lead cllr for Planning and Assets.
As well as its lead councillors, RBC has laid out the chairs of the individual committees for the upcoming municipal year.
Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, and Education will be chaired by Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles, with vice chair Cllr Jan Gavin.
Housing Neighbourhoods and Leisure will be chaired by Cllr Glenn Dennis, with the position of vice chair to be determined.
Cllr Will Cross will chair the Strategic Environment, Planning, and Transport committee with vice chair Cllr Andrew Hornsby-Smith.
Cllr Mo Ayub wil lead the Traffic Management sub-committee along with vice chair cllr Jacopo Lanzoni.
The Planning Applications committee will be chaired by Cllr Jo Lovelock with vice chair Cllr Matt Yeo, and the Licensing committee will be chaired by Cllr Paul Woodward, with vice chair Cllr Debs Edwards.
Leader of the council Cllr Jason Brock said: “This is a strong and vastly experienced front bench team, all with years of service as Lead Councillors previously, which brings with it a wealth of knowledge about our town, our residents, our communities and the Council services we deliver.
“It promises to be another busy year ahead and it is incumbent on us to deliver against the trust once again put in myself and my colleagues by the electorate.
“It means pushing ahead with our ambitious programme of delivering new flagship facilities for residents– whether that be new or refurbished train stations like at Green Park or Reading West, modern new pools and leisure centres like at Palmer Park and Rivermead, new playgrounds like at Prospect Park, and new cycle infrastructure being built along Shinfield Road and Bath Road.
He explained: “We are determined to redouble our efforts in tackling the important issues in our town, building even more affordable Council homes, working with partners to tackle anti-social behaviour, taking strong action on flytipping and graffiti, and continuing to build on our tremendous progress in driving towards net zero by 2030.
“All the while, we will continue to strive for excellence in all of the day-to-day services we deliver, including those that many residents do not see but that we know a great many people rely on – like caring for Reading’s vulnerable adults and children, for example.
He concluded: “And, at a time when the on-going cost of living crisis continues to impact on the communities which need the most help, we will continue to do everything we can to support these residents, making full use of Reading’s buoyant economy to create new opportunities for people to share in the town’s success.”
