Residents of Bracknell Forest feel the council isn’t listening to them, an opposition councillor has claimed.

Liberal Democrat Patrick Smith made the challenge at a Bracknell Forest Council meeting on Wednesday, September 13.

He said: “Residents are telling us that they don’t feel listened to, that they are struggling to access public services and support from the Council, and that their voices are not considered when the Council makes decisions which affect their lives.

“They are complaining that they are not receiving clear communication from the Council leadership and feel in the dark about what is going on in their communities.”

READ MORE: Bracknell Forest Council: 'hard decisions' says Mary Temperton

Councillor Smith called for the council to produce a report showing what it has done to include residents in its decisions.

Labour council leader Mary Temperton supported his call – and said she had already taken action since taking charge in May, including holding a cost of living information event in Princess Square.

She said she wanted to hold a similar event before the council sets its budget next year. She said: “It is going to be a very hard budget, but they ought to know why those choices are going to be made.

“In our manifesto, we said we will take the council to the people. And you can only do that if you involve all the people completely.”