Latest news with #LizTerry
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
What Greater Reading council could like if expansion goes ahead
An enlarged Reading council could expand into the suburbs and even incorporate a village if local government reorganisation plans are accepted. Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the leader of Reading Borough Council, has suggested incorporating Calcot, Tilehurst Parish, Theale and Pangbourne into the council's jurisdiction. These areas are currently governed by West Berkshire Council. Moving them over to Reading council would create a 'Greater Reading' borough of more than 200,000 residents. The proposal is a counteroffer to the creation of 'Ridgeway Council', which would merge South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Berkshire Council. Ridgeway Council has been invented as Oxfordshire County Council could be abolished in 2028. In order for the Greater Reading proposal to go ahead, Reading Borough Council's policy committee would have to agree to call for a boundary review in a submission to Angela Rayner, the Labour secretary of state for local government. But what would a Greater Reading council look like? Geographically, not a great deal would change. Calcot and Tilehurst Parish are already in the Reading urban area, with the M4 separating Theale. Although Pangbourne is a settlement of its own, it is only divided from Purley by a few fields. Notably, the Greater Reading proposal would not include Earley, Woodley and Shinfield, all suburbs that are in Wokingham Borough Council's jurisdiction. Politically, Greater Reading would see more representation from opposition parties. Reading has been a Labour stronghold for more than a decade, with the council being controlled by Labour since 2012. The Conservatives have been on the retreat since the all-out election in 2022, with Labour taking seats from the Tories in Caversham Heights in 2022 and 2023 and Emmer Green in 2024. But if the five West Berkshire council wards that Reading Borough requested are incorporated into 'Greater Reading', the Conservatives would gain five seats and the Liberal Democrats would gain three. Assuming these wards are added as they are currently constituted, the Greater Reading council would have 57 councillors representing 22 wards. Labour would retain control with 33 councillors, requiring 29 councillors for a majority. Assuming voting habits in Tilehurst Parish remain, the Conservatives would pip the Green Party to be the leaders of the opposition. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat representation would double to six. You can see the current representatives of the five wards Reading Borough Council is asking for below: Tilehurst & Purley (three-member ward) Cllr Paul Kander - Conservative Cllr Jane Langford - Conservative Cllr Janine Lewis - Liberal Democrats Tilehurst South & Holybrook (two-member ward) Cllr Biyi Oloko - Conservative Cllr Richard Somner - Conservative Our Summer Sale is LIVE! Get 6 months of trusted local news for just £6! Subscribe now 👇 — Reading Chronicle (@rdgchronicle) July 3, 2025 Tilehurst Birch Copse (two-member ward) Cllr Joanne Stewart - Conservative Cllr Clive Taylor - Labour Pangbourne (one-member ward) Cllr Matt Shakespeare - Liberal Democrats Theale (one-member ward) Councillor Alan Macro - Liberal Democrats
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Construction of 'amazing' new theatre underway
Construction work has started on a town's "amazing" new 200-seat theatre. Contractors have moved into The Hexagon in Reading to begin building the new Studio Theatre, which will also have backstage facilities and an upgraded technical area. A ceremony marking the start of the work on Monday was attended by Reading Borough Council councillors, including leader Liz Terry. She said: "I am so pleased we are now at the point where this transformative work is beginning to create a new purpose-built venue." She said the new theatre would provide "amazing new facilities" for the town. "The new Studio Theatre is also set to be at the heart of a regeneration for that area of the town as part of the Minster Quarter," she said. The council said the new theatre had been designed to be flexible, with the foyer doubling as a rehearsal and community space. The seating in the theatre itself will also be removeable, to create a standing space for 300 people. Accessible entrances are also going to be installed. Lead councillor for culture Adele Barnett-Ward said the new facility would attract a wide range of cultural acts. "The arts are such a vital part of the town and people's lives," he said. "I cannot wait to see the first shows in the new Studio Theatre and see community groups use the space." The first stage of the work will involve the demolition of the backstage area, dock and stage door area. Shows will pause for 11 weeks to allow the work to begin, and will resume on 27 September with a temporary back of house area in place. The new Studio Theatre will be open to the public in spring 2027. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Scaled-back theatre upgrade project approved Multimillion-pound plans for theatre given go-ahead Council submits £13.7m theatre upgrade plans Reading Borough Council
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Construction for new Hexagon Studio Theatre underway in Reading
Construction work has started on a town's "amazing" new 200-seat have moved into The Hexagon in Reading to begin building the new Studio Theatre, which will also have backstage facilities and an upgraded technical area.A ceremony marking the start of the work on Monday was attended by Reading Borough Council councillors, including leader Liz said: "I am so pleased we are now at the point where this transformative work is beginning to create a new purpose-built venue." She said the new theatre would provide "amazing new facilities" for the town."The new Studio Theatre is also set to be at the heart of a regeneration for that area of the town as part of the Minster Quarter," she said. The council said the new theatre had been designed to be flexible, with the foyer doubling as a rehearsal and community seating in the theatre itself will also be removeable, to create a standing space for 300 entrances are also going to be councillor for culture Adele Barnett-Ward said the new facility would attract a wide range of cultural acts."The arts are such a vital part of the town and people's lives," he said."I cannot wait to see the first shows in the new Studio Theatre and see community groups use the space." The first stage of the work will involve the demolition of the backstage area, dock and stage door will pause for 11 weeks to allow the work to begin, and will resume on 27 September with a temporary back of house area in new Studio Theatre will be open to the public in spring 2027. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Children's services to return to council in October
Staff working for a not-for-profit company set up by a council to run services for children will have their jobs transferred back into the authority in October. Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) was set up in December 2018 by Reading Borough Council after the authority's services were rated inadequate by Ofsted. The council voted to bring the services back under its direct control at a meeting in January. BFfC was created with the aim of improving services but Reading's children's services were judged to still require improvement in July 2024. When the decision was taken earlier this year to bring the company's employees back in-house, council leader Liz Terry said BFfC had made "good progress". In papers, the authority said BFfC staff will be transferred to the council on 1 October. The council's corporate and HR policies will replace BFfC's policies, it said. Staff were consulted about the move between 5 June and 7 July. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Council to bring children's services back in-house Council could bring children's services in-house Mother given £3,460 after sons miss out on school Inadequate youth justice service 'neglected' children Reading Borough Council
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Reading's children's services to return to council in October
Staff working for a not-for-profit company set up by a council to run services for children will have their jobs transferred back into the authority in Futures for Children (BFfC) was set up in December 2018 by Reading Borough Council after the authority's services were rated inadequate by council voted to bring the services back under its direct control at a meeting in was created with the aim of improving services but Reading's children's services were judged to still require improvement in July 2024. When the decision was taken earlier this year to bring the company's employees back in-house, council leader Liz Terry said BFfC had made "good progress".In papers, the authority said BFfC staff will be transferred to the council on 1 council's corporate and HR policies will replace BFfC's policies, it were consulted about the move between 5 June and 7 July. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
