TODAY marks the last day of national democracy week and what better way to celebrate than to find out what your local authority is up to in the next five working days?
Last week was a quiet one for Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) and Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) with only one committee meeting and two panel meetings between them.
This week promises to be more interesting, however, with councillors set to come together to discuss some controversial issues.
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Monday, July 8
Tonight sees WBC’s standards committee meet to discuss the complaints the council has received against councillors since March.
A report produced for the meeting shows six complaints were received in the last five months.
One complaint is still being investigated by officers despite being submitted in February.
It concerns the behaviour of a borough councillor and investigators found a breach of conduct, but the councillor is still waiting to hear how they will be disciplined.
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This complaint and five more will be chewed over by councillors this evening at a public meeting at 7pm.
The meeting will take place at WBC’s Shute End offices, Wokingham, RG40 1BN.
Tuesday, July 9
No meetings at either Bracknell or Wokingham on Tuesday but if you would like to submit a question to Wokingham councillors – be that about bin collection, housing numbers, leisure facilities or anything else – you must submit them by 10am.
You can submit questions using the link here.
BFC’s only committee meeting this week takes place on Wednesday and councillors are expected to give the council’s new social media policy the green light.
Under the new rules councillors and employees will be told how to conduct themselves online, with advice detailed on what to post when acting in a personal, professional and corporate manner.
This comes after an investigation recommended the council needed to set out a cohesive protocol.
If you would like to see councillors discuss this new policy, you can attend the public meeting at BFC’s Time Square offices, Market Street, RG12 1JD from 7.30pm.
Be aware – the meeting will move to a private session after the new policy is discussed – so members of the public will not be allowed to stay beyond this point.
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On the same evening in Wokingham, the authority’s planning bosses will meet to vote on a number of controversial applications.
Unlike last time the committee met, there are no huge planning applications to build hundreds of homes.
But there are a few interesting proposals set to be decided on, including plans to build six homes in Earley, changes to Thames Valley Park Drive, a controversial extension causing contention in Woodley, and more.
You can come along to this meeting at WBC’s offices (address above) from 7pm.
Friday, July 12
Bracknell’s local safeguarding children board will meet on Friday, but what they will be discussing is anyone’s guess, as an agenda has not been uploaded for public viewing yet.
The board is made up of key figures from across the borough who are involved in caring for children, including police officers, council directors and more.
This meeting gets underway from 9.30am at BFC’s offices (address above).
That’s all for this week – if you would like to view full details for Bracknell and Wokingham click on the links attached.
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