Hello again to everyone in the borough. Summer has unofficially started with the arrival of Wimbledon, and there have already been a few shock exits. That said, there is also a lot going on closer to home.

This week saw the start of the second and final Community Governance Review (CGR) consultation. Earlier this year, we consulted with residents on the Bracknell Forest CGR to determine if the current parish and town council ward boundaries and number of councillors need to change, in order to reflect the changing make-up of the local communities.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation. Having taken your feedback into consideration, the council has now published draft proposals for the borough’s town and parish councils, and we would like your views.

The consultation will close on Sunday, 11 September. Residents, businesses, community groups and town and parish councils can take part in the consultation via the council’s website. Paper copies will also be made available in all libraries across the borough, as well as Time Square, our council office. Agreed changes will come into effect for the elections being held on 4 May 2023. If you have any questions, please email: electoral.reviews@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

July is also Disability Pride Month, an international annual awareness month which celebrates disabled people and the diversity of our community. Disability Pride works to shine a light on physical, learning, and hidden disabilities, as well as mental health conditions. It enables people to have open conversations about disability through sharing experiences, raising awareness of the barriers and challenges the community faces, as well as celebrating diversity. Here at Bracknell Forest, we’d like to wish everyone a very happy Disability Pride Month.

Whatever you are up to, I wish everyone a very pleasant week ahead.