Councils are now back in full swing after the local elections with councillors ready to discuss a number of important issues across Berkshire.

This week there’s a range of matters being talked about at meetings the public are (mostly) free to attend.

Here’s what’s going on at your local council this week with all the information you need if you would like to see democracy in action.

Monday, June 17

It’s all about regeneration tonight.

In Bracknell, cross-party talks are taking place to discuss the latest regeneration plans for Bracknell town centre.

Unfortunately, as the News reported last week, a large part of this meeting is closed off to the public, meaning councillors will talk behind closed doors.

However, in Wokingham, the public are all-clear to attend a meeting where Market Place will be the main topic of conversation.

New reports suggest Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) overspent on its regeneration by five per cent and the authority has been warned to keep a close eye on safety concerns around the town centre.

This could be an interesting meeting as councillors dissect this information.

If you would like to attend, the public meeting kicks off at 7pm at the council’s offices at Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN.

Tuesday, June 18

Bracknell’s top team will meet on Tuesday at 5pm to talk about a range of issues – but again, sadly, most of them are in private.

The executive will discuss latest plans for Horseshoe Lake’s transformation to a country park, as well as the sale of two council properties at Winkfield Manor and in Bracknell.

Members of the public are allowed into a different Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) meeting later on, however, where councillors will bring each other up to date on the latest environment, culture and community issues around the borough.

These include the most recent updates on the council’s LED lighting project, BFC’s plans for its parking strategy, houses in multiple occupation, and more.

If you would like to hear the latest on these issues, the meeting gets underway at 7.30pm at BFC’s Time Square offices at Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1JD.

In Wokingham, councillors and members of the authority’s children’s services team will discuss the fallout from Ofsted’s recent report slamming WBC’s provisions for children with special educational needs.Officers will also give updates on the department’s performance in the last quarter after a number of worrying trends spooked councillors in recent months.

This one’s free for the public to attend as well – you can hear what they have to say from 7 pm at WBC’s Shute End offices (address above).

Wednesday, June 19

There’s no meeting in Bracknell on Wednesday evening – there was due to be a Bracknell Forest Access Group, but that’s been cancelled for reasons not made clear.

However, in Wokingham, council bosses including leader John Halsall and planning chief Wayne Smith are set to be grilled over the authority’s ‘future housing consultation’.This proposal has already upset a number of opposition councillors in recent weeks – particularly because of its £80,000 cost – but the referendum will go ahead after WBC’s top team voted through plans in May.

Expect a number of tough questions for Cllrs Halsall and Smith from members of all parties.

The committee will also be updated on how grass-cutting services in the borough are getting on.

As the News has reported, councillors were unhappy with the service its contractors provided last summer after residents complained about uncut grass and untidy public spaces.

But WBC’s providers say they’ve only received 11 complaints so far this year – down significantly from the 168 they received at the same point in 2018.

Councillors will get another chance to examine the grass-cutters’ progress on Wednesday.

This meeting starts at 7pm and is at WBC’s Shute End offices.

Thursday, June 20

Get set for an action-packed day at Bracknell Forest Council’s offices – the public can attend four different meetings on Thursday!

First up, councillors will decide whether a new crepes cafe can set up at Savernake Park.

From what the News has learned about the new eatery, residents could be in for some tasty treats if the proposal gets the go-ahead.

That meeting is at 10am at BFC’s Time Square offices (full address above) and is followed by another licensing meeting later on.

This one should also be interesting – Berkshire Polo Club wants to double its capacity but a number of nearby residents don’t like the plans because they’re worried about noise coming from the Winkfield site.

If you would like to come along to this meeting, get to BFC’s offices for 2pm.

A little while later headteachers and staff from schools across the borough will get together with council bosses to talk about budgets for the year gone by and for the coming years.

There’s a lot to discuss on this agenda – so it could be a long meeting full of financial facts and analysis of the current position of the borough’s schools.

If this sounds up your street, proceedings start at 4.30pm at BFC’s offices.

Finally, councillors from all three parties will sit down at 7.30pm to judge three planning applications which are causing concern.

One proposal to build four homes in Ascot is angering residents who say they don’t want to see large homes replace two bungalows.

Another plan for Winkfield has attracted support from nearly a dozen residents who are urging BFC to give the developers the all-clear to build two homes at the site of a “shabby” and “run-down” garage on North Street.

Last but not least, councillors will also decide on plans to build three homes in Binfield, but neighbours and councillors are protesting this move due to worries about overdevelopment in the area.

The planning committee meeting is set to be held in BFC’s council chamber at its Time Square offices.

Sadly, there are no public meetings for either authority on Friday, June 21.

Full details of each agenda for every meeting can be found for

Bracknell

and

Wokingham

here.