‘READING Labour will always do all it can for everyone in our community,’ is a key message from the party ahead of this year’s local elections.
There are 16 seats up for grabs in the contest on May 2, and the party is looking to maintain or increase its strong grip on the make-up of the council: it currently has 32 seats, compared to the Greens seven, the Conservatives five, three Liberal Democrats and one independent.
Its manifesto, the last under its current leader Cllr Jason Brock, takes the cost-of-living crisis and its effect on council finances as its core.
The party is pledged to support the town’s most vulnerable, despite needing to spend an additional £16 million to do so. They say the government has only given 10% of the additional costs generated.
“Labour remains dedicated to ensuring Reading’s success and that everyone here can share in that success,” Cllr Brock writes in the preface to the document, setting out the party’s plans for the year ahead.
Among its promises for economic success, it says it will promote development of a tourism economy for the town, support the creation of co-operatives and provide socially responsible job opportunities.
It also pledges to make Reading a Living Wage town, and see firms committed to paying this as a minimum.
Labour says it is committed to expanding its New Build council home programme, after delivering more than 400 new homes, as well as its key working housing. The rent guarantee scheme would help more residents access affordable housing.
Where new schemes are proposed, Labour says it would ensure they include appropriate facilities and public services.
In transport, the council says it will continue to work on its £26.3m plan to boost buses, introduce electric vehicles to its fleet, and repair potholes. At the heart of its strategy will be the climate crisis and sustainable transport.
This will include seeing more 20mph zones, new pedestrian crossings and speed-calming measures.
A big change will be a push to see the council gain powers to enforce speed limits, to stop speeding.
The party also says it will continue to lower exclusion rates in schools, deliver more SEND school places, and continue to involve children from all backgrounds in arts and cultural initiatives. There would also be a £1.5 million investment in play parks including accessible equipment.
It promises to grow its traded services, protect jobs and increase income. It would also do more to support residents struggling with their council tax.
Among previously announced capital projects, Labour says it will deliver the new Reading Central Library in its Bridge Street offices.
Also pledged is a plan to build on Reading’s success in reducing its carbon footprint by delivering new segregated cycling schemes, new public transport infrastructure, more Council housing retrofit schemes, greater biodiversity in our parks, and tougher enforcement against fly tipping.
Cllr Brock, who is stepping down following the vote, said: “The manifesto builds on Reading Labour’s stewardship of Reading Borough Council and the platform of financial stability, and attraction to external investors, that Labour have created.
“In very challenging financial circumstances, Reading Labour have set a balanced budget with an ambitious capital programme, protecting frontline Council services and maintaining our previous commitments to residents.”
The manifesto can be read at: https://readinglabour.org.uk/reading-labour-manifesto-2024/
