Council Leader's Blog

The Leader’s Blog will resume after the elections.

If you need to contact Cllr David Lee, please email: david.lee@wokingham.gov.uk

Isn’t it lovely that Spring appears to have sprung? It is fantastic to feel the sun on my face again – let’s hope it lasts! It’s certainly put a spring in my step and I’m raring to get going on my Spring cleaning.

If the sun’s put you in the mood for a Spring clean, why not  do something different and join the hundreds of volunteers who have signed up to take part in the borough’s biggest ever litter blitz on Saturday March 20 and Sunday March 21?

Litter picks will take place at various times and locations throughout the weekend in Arborfield, Barkham, Earley, Finchampstead, Norreys and Wescott, Sonning, Winnersh, Wokingham, Woodley and in Dinton Pastures, Hurst.

Details on exact locations can be found at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/clean-up.

There is no need to book a place, just turn up, even if you can only spare 30 minutes all help is welcome. (Hurst will be carrying out their clean up on Saturday March 27.)

Last year more than 900 volunteers took part – why not being one of them this year? You can bring your dog – just make sure you clean up after them, using the general waste bins. Rosie and I will be there at some stage – although March 20 is my birthday so I’ll have to say ‘celebrations and hangover allowing!’

Cocker spaniel Rosie getting ready for a spring day out with Dad!

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please shout! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

Well, that was a bit of a slog! But we’re ready to set a budget next week – a budget I’m pleased to say that will maintain the quality services that really matter to our residents, such as weekly waste collections, and the quality of life in our borough, with for example our fantastic country parks.

Despite the difficult financial times being experienced the length and breadth of the country, we’re also introducing new services such as the new Gorse Ride library and keeping buses on the roads in Earley and Woodley. And we’re doing this without loss of quality in these services, while still keeping WBC’s share of the proposed council tax increase to 1.9 per cent and protecting services for those vulnerable people most in need.

The budget is due to be agreed next week when the Council meets on February 18 at 8pm – and, if agreed, the 1.9 per cent would equate to an increase of £22.85 for the year (at Band D) – the price of a round of drinks.

You’re more than welcome to come along and hear more about what we’re planning to do, despite being the worst funded unitary council in the country.

Did you know, for instance, that we receive from central government just £123 per person compared with, for example, Slough which gets £466 and Reading £380. This means we have to raise 80p from residents via council tax for every £1 we spend on services, against an average of 53p for other unitary councils.

But, despite this, we’ve still managed to keep reducing our costs without sacrificing the core, universal services on which our residents rely. And we haven’t compromised on quality – we’ve achieved this by reducing the cost of delivery through greater efficiency. 

Saying that, we’ve had to take steps to safeguard the Council’s future viability because, as you will be aware, substantial reductions in public expenditure across the nation are likely over the next three years. WBC will be no exception and we will have to do things more efficiently with fewer staff and taking advantage of new technology, whilst at the same time building on the progress we have already made.

We are therefore continuing to transform the way we deliver services so we can be sure we’re using our stretched resources to provide services in the best possible way.

We will see many good things happening in the borough such as progress on the redevelopment of Wokingham Town Centre and the £31million rebuild of Waingels College in Woodley. We will bring much-needed specialist housing for older people to Wokingham and Woodley and will take forward the scheme to build affordable local housing for local people in Wargrave. We will celebrate the opening of a brand new community centre at the heart of Finchampstead thanks to a partnership between the council, Finchampstead Baptist Church and other key community organisations. We will continue, through our Putting People First progamme, to give more people control of their social care through personal budgets – at the moment, more than 420 people have a personal budget.

And we will continue to maintain excellent levels of educational attainment and improve services that safeguard children. Key indicators show that we are operating in the top quartile in the country – and have been doing so for the last six months.

So quite a tough time ahead with some difficult decisions to be made. But I hope that the financial facts below will help you understand why:

• Wokingham Borough receives £39million in central government grant but residents and businesses pay back over £60milllion in rates and taxes. (This excludes the money that goes directly to schools.)
• We receive from central government just £123 per person compared with, for example, Slough which gets £466 and Reading £380.
• Only 20p in every £1 we spend comes from central government – other councils get 47p on average.
• In Wokingham Borough, 41p in every £1 that council tenants pay in rent has to be handed over to central government.
• We have saved almost £16million over the past five years and a further £2.6million is set to be saved in 2010-11.
• Our staffing costs are reducing – over the past five years we have saved over £1.7million on our staffing costs and in the next three years we aim to save at least a further £4.4million per annum.
• Each member of staff serves 127 residents – the lowest staff numbers to population in Berkshire.
• WBC is the third lowest spending unitary council per head of population (£635). Reading spends £838 and Slough £855. But our residents think we’re the best, with most people being satisfied with Wokingham Borough as a place to live – a little less than 90 per cent which is higher than most other places. And this is according to independent surveys.

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please shout! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

 Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

It won’t have escaped anyone’s notice that life has been made difficult for us all by the weather lately. For our Council, the snow and freezing temperatures have disrupted schools, sports activities, rubbish collections and roads. With some patience on the part of our residents, essential services have been maintained.

I would like to pay tribute to and express my pride in our staff. Despite sometimes having difficult journeys to work, carers have ensured that our most vulnerable people have received the necessary care, teachers have enabled exams to be taken, gritters and snow plough operators have worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that key roads passable. Other staff have continued to keep up the information flow and answer residents’ questions and issues. 

I would also like to express my gratitude and thanks to all the volunteers who helped clear the schools, walkways, playgrounds and carparks. I have also heard many stories of neighbours helping each other by clearing pathways, digging out cars and checking things are well with our neighbours. 

This old fashioned ‘mucking in together’ and ‘helping each other out’ is what makes Wokingham Borough a good place to live. It is what makes us a community, not just a series of towns and villages. (See the photos below for our borough in action.)

Contractors hard at work!

Bulmershe School Headteacher Peter Lewis (front) shovelling snow with other volunteers.

Contractors filling the gritting lorry.

For these reasons I am deeply concerned with the implications of the warnings that have been given to those that clear snow of pavements and roads – that they may be sued if someone is injured. I am not denying that there is the ability to sue (as you can for all human activity, it seems) but what it appears to me is a triumph of litigation madness over commonsense and neighbourliness. Surely things have gone too far when we do not shovel a bit of snow for fear of being sued, or look for someone else to blame if we slip over?  It would be too bad if the only interaction we have with our neighbours is when we sue them!

I fervently hope that all those who took responsibility for themselves and others and were good neighbours, do not have to suffer the indignity of a small-minded lawsuit. You would have my personal and moral support. The Wokingham Borough I want to live in is a community that cares for each other.  It seems to me that keeping alive that community spirit far outweighs any potential mercenary gain from successful litigation. 

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please shout! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

Bearing in mind the headlines that have been appearing and the comments from some commentators that one might be mistaken for thinking that some people have not read the “One Place” Area Assessment for our Borough. I would suggest that they not only read it (the comments below are word for word from our Report) but compare it to our neighbours were comments like “crime rose last year” or “health is improving” or “education results are in line with the average for similar areas.”

Let us look at the Report:

A lot of people are satisfied with Wokingham Borough as a place to live – a little less than 90% – which is higher than most other places. Local people are satisfied with most of the services delivered by the Council including waste collection and recycling.

Support is available for young people to help them through the (Economic) downturn. Preparation for the return to full economic activity is in hand, such as preparing redevelopment proposals for Wokingham Town Centre.

House prices are high and the number of homes being built that people can afford is below the number required and targets set. Has anyone heard there is a recession and houses are not being built?

Crime is low in Wokingham compared to the national average and similar areas. When crime occurs action to tackle it is usually quick and local people are informed about what is happening.

Education standards are high with good exam results and well above average compared to similar areas in England as a whole.

People in the borough are generally healthy.

Services for older people are rated by the Care Quality Commission as performing well. Older people receive support to live independently in their own homes and the Council listens to what they want.

The Council has a good track record in delivering value for money and efficiency.

The Council’s finances are sound.

Roads are well maintained and the M4 Junction 11 improvements are designed to improve traffic flow.

 However, and there always is an however, There were serious doubts about child protection in Wokingham and this is an area receiving further action.

 Safeguarding was judged inadequate following an inspection published early in 2009. The Council’s performance in 2008/9 was in the bottom 25% of all councils.  Note this was early 2009 and that no children had suffered the position since April 2009 puts Wokingham Borough in the top quartile of all councils.

When asked some 90% of our residents were satisfied with Wokingham compared to 64% in Slough, 86% in Windsor, 76% in Reading, 85% in West Berkshire and 83% in Bracknell.

So a big thank you, on behalf of all residents (even those who criticise without reading the report) to all our staff for a job well done – and a job well done with the least help from Government (did I tell you that our Borough receives the lowest amount of money of any unitary authority – Reading for example receives over twice what we do).

And did you know that in spite of being the worst funded authority our Band D Council Tax is only £20 per year more than the national average Band D of £1,414 which shows that good financial management is exercised by your Council.

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please shout! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

Well, those of you who know me will be aware that I’m not a great fan of the Audit Commission and its many inspections. They take up a lot of time and cost a fortune to tell us what we know and are already well on our way to fixing.

But saying that, we are where we are and I am pleased that in the latest raft of inspections published today (December 9) they have acknowledged that many of our priority services are performing well.

Older people’s services, social care for adults and waste and recycling have all been given the thumbs up, as has WBC’s financial management. We are also seen as having a good track record in delivering value for money.

But what pleases me the most is how local satisfaction with the Council is above average. Most people – almost 90 per cent – think Wokingham Borough is a good place to live, so we – along with our partners – must be doing something right!

The not so good news is the judgement on the way children in the area are being kept safe from harm. But we are on the case! We have invested much time, effort and money in recent months to turn safeguarding services around.

Our staff and our new management team have put in huge amounts of effort and commitment to bring about these improvements, and people can be reassured that our services are not poor – indeed, we are now in the top 25 percent for child protection and safeguarding. Over 90 per cent of children referred to the Council are, for example, assessed within seven days – which is way above the national average.

This significant progress made has been acknowledged by the Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Dawn Primarolo, who, in a recent letter, said she was pleased to see the improvements that have been made and in particular the strong upward trend against safeguarding performance indicators.

So, whilst we still face a number of challenges, significant improvements have been made and we are definitely on the right track. We know we’ve got to embed the improvements, and that is exactly what we are doing. What we don’t need is to be told what we already know and are sorting out. And we don’t want our residents to get the wrong picture from these out-of-date inspections.

But the Audit Commission’s pièce de résistance is their criticism of our council housing. We are doing our very best to improve our housing stock but there is the small matter of funding. At the moment, some 50 per cent of the rent we collect from tenants has to be handed over to central government to be spent on housing in other parts of the country. So how can we improve the housing if we can’t keep the money that is needed to do it? Keeping the homes wind and watertight is as much as we can do until we find a solution. We’re working on it!

Finally, on behalf of all the residents of the borough, I just like to say a big thank you to all our staff for their excellent work and for a job well done despite us being the worst funded authority in the whole country.

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please shout! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

Have you seen the latest edition of WBC’s residents’ newspaper WOKINGHAM BOROUGH NEWS? Well you should – it’s great! And not just because it has so many photos of me in it!! And before you ask – I really am learning to play the saxophone and I am a scout leader!

Seriously though – it is a good read, with some very useful stuff in it, not least the article on the masterplans that are currently being developed for Wokingham Town Centre and four major new communities set to be built in the borough.

You can read about the delightful Duchess of Kent who officially opened the brand new Addington School and find out more about how social care is changing for the better.  

There is a lot of information on the sport and leisure facilities and activities that the Council brings to the borough, such as the state-of the art football pitches that have opened in Woodley and the new Astroturf at Wokingham’s Cantley Park. The photos of the outdoor gym at Bearwood Recreation Ground will bring a smile to your face as will the ‘It’s a Knock-out’ competition that was organised by some of the borough’s enterprising young people.

There’s a special feature on how the Council is developing more housing choices for older people and some interesting facts on how you can help build aeroplanes, jumpers and roof insulation out of your rubbish.

And if that’s not enough, there’s a ‘who’s who’ of your borough councillors as well as details of affordable homes being built for local people in Wargrave as well as the latest news on the brand new multi-purpose community centre being built in Finchampstead.

Actually there’s loads more but why not read it for yourself?

By the way, we’re trialling a new delivery system so if you haven’t received your copy please contact the Communications Unit asap at: communications@wokingham.gov.uk Alternatively, you can pick one up from the Council offices or your local library or click on the link below to read it online:

www.wokingham.gov.uk/wokingham-borough-news

And those of you who are wondering why we’re still printing newspapers in this electronic age might be interested to know that we are trying to build up databases of residents’ email addresses and mobile phone numbers so we can send targeted information to you electronically. Look out for the leaflet that will be delivered with your Christmas waste calendar or download it by clicking on the link below:

www.wokingham.gov.uk/keeping-in-touch-with-your-council

Happy reading!!

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please shout! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

One of the biggest headaches of being a council leader is setting the budget and council tax levels. And, as we move towards setting next year’s budget, I think I need to put WBC’s funding into perspective and lay out some key facts.

WBC does everything it can to keep council tax increases to a minimum. Councillors and officers work hard to keep costs under firm control and to cut inefficiencies and unnecessary bureaucracy. Indeed, some £16million of savings have been achieved over the past five years - financial prudence which, in part, has led to the Council being recognised by the Audit Commission as being one of the best in managing its finances. 

This has been achieved despite Wokingham Borough being the worst funded unitary authority in the country per head of population.

This limited funding from central government, coupled with significant growth pressures caused by the need to look after some of the most vulnerable in our community and the fact that there is little or no fat left in the organisation, means that we need our residents to understand that we can no longer do as much for them as we’d like.

We remain committed to keep council tax as low as possible in the future but, given our funding situation with central government and the difficulty in achieving ongoing efficiencies, this will become increasingly problematic in future years, if we are to continue providing high quality services for our residents.

Putting WBC’s funding in perspective (– and those eagle-eyed among you will realise that these figures have been updated since our residents’ newspaper went to press):

• The myth of WBC’s funding from central government – Wokingham Borough is actually negatively funded by central government by more than £21million – Wokingham Borough receives some £39million in central government grant but residents and businesses pay back the government over £60milllion in rates and taxes. (This excludes the money that goes directly to our schools. Every council receives this grant. For Wokingham Borough schools this amounts to some £100million.)
• We are the worst funded unitary authority in the country per head of population – We receive from central government just £123 per person compared with, for example, Slough which gets £466 and Reading £380.
• Only 20p in every £1 we spend comes from central government - We have to raise 80p from residents via the council tax for every £1 we spend on services, against an average of 47p for other unitary councils.
• WBC receives only the minimum increase in general grant funding – In 2009-10 we received just under £285,000 extra cash and this could reduce to £271,000 next year. The result of all this is that our £21million net payment to the government is likely to increase.
• The so-called housing ‘subsidy’ - In Wokingham Borough, 43p in every £1 that Council tenants pay in rent has to be handed over to central government.
• We need money to look after our growing older population – We have the fastest growing population of residents aged over 65 in the South East, and the numbers of residents with dementia are set to triple over 20 years.
• Our funding should reflect the contribution borough businesses make to the treasury coffers – Our businesses are part of the engine room of the South East and, as business rates are set by central government, they make a significant contribution to national coffers. The Council collects these rates on the government’s behalf, but is not allowed to keep the funds. Nearly £150million has been collected over the last three years, yet we only got back some £300,000. This year we did not actually receive any additional money at all.

We have saved almost £16million over the past five years:

• 2005-06: £2.1million – mainly from procurement savings (e.g. transport, contract renewals) £400k; reduced borrowing costs £440k; increased income £620k and staff reductions £150k.
• 2006-07: £3.6million - mainly from staff reductions £1million; reduced borrowing costs £444k and procurement savings (e.g. transport, contract renewals) £400k.
• 2007-08: £4.3million – mainly from changing the eligibility threshold for our adult social care services £900k, better commissioning and procurement of services £776k, staff reductions £590k, reduced debt charges and increased income on investments £593k and increased income from fees and charges and grants £463k.
• 2008-09: £3million – mainly from efficiencies in information technology £240k, borrowing costs and interest income £597k, increases in income from fees and charges / specific grants £547k.
• 2009-10: £2.9million – mainly from the Council’s Transformation project £400k, staff reductions £400k, reductions in highways and open space maintenance £530k, reduced debt charges 100k, increased income through fees and charges and specific grants £480k and remodelling of adult social care £464k (changes in procurement and moving to individual budgets).

And our staffing costs are reducing - between 2005-06 and 2008-09, we saved some £1.74million on our staffing costs. We currently spend some £45million on staff and in the next three years we aim to save at least a further £3.65million – £400k in 2009-10, £1.25million in 2010-11 and £2million in 2011-12. But our staff to population ratio is busy! With our population of 156,600, each member of staff serves 127 residents – the lowest staff numbers to population in Berkshire. You might also like to know that Wokingham is the third lowest spending unitary council per head of population (£635 per head). Reading’s spend per head of population is £838 and Slough’s is £855.

To find out what we have done in spite of our limited funding, click on the link below:

www.wokingham.gov.uk/for-you 

There’s much much more I’d like to say but I’ve been advised to keep it short! So, if you’d like to know more about our funding, savings or anything else fiscal, please get in touch!

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please shout! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

Following on from my last blog which focused on volunteering, I want this time to say how impressed I am with the voluntary sector and local charity organisations that get on and do – really do – things for our borough and our residents.

As this council is rather cash-strapped thanks to limited funding from central government, we need people to understand that we can no longer do as much for them as we’d like. But we will continue to support the voluntary sector so they continue their invaluable support.

And there’s the fun element – the Windsor Forest Unicorns have organised the Cantley firework spectacular for 21 years, raising £500,000 for local charities, and putting on one of the best firework displays I’ve ever seen. (I know I’m going to get a kicking for not mentioning all of our local charities, events or key partners, so please take this message in the spirit it was intended – voluntary and charity organisations that just get on and do stuff for others and the borough as a whole are brilliant!)

That said, I must just mention the Finchampstead Baptist Church which has joined forces with the Borough Council and other partners to bring a brand new community centre to the heart of Finchampstead. This fine multi-purpose venue is set to open in the New Year and has been made possible by everyone working together to provide something that will really improve people’s lives.

My sincere thanks go to all our volunteers and charities that make such a difference.

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please get in touch! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council

One thing that’s really worrying me at the moment is all this talk about bringing in extra vetting for volunteers. It really alarms me that people might be put off from helping others because of unnecessary red tape.

The checks that volunteers are expected to go through are becoming increasingly onerous and, while I totally appreciate the need to ensure a child’s or vulnerable person’s safety, the latest set of checks that are being mooted at present do seem over the top when you consider what checking systems already exist.

I am relieved that the government has asked for the woolly definitions used in deciding who should be subject to this extra vetting to be looked at again. We should be making the process as easy as possible so that the bureaucracy does not deter our sterling volunteers from wanting to help the less fortunate in our society.

There are plenty of opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in doing their bit for others. Whether you’re driving disabled people to the dentist, carrying out conservation work in a country park or reading stories to children at the library, you will be part of Wokingham Borough’s army of volunteers that touches the lives of hundreds of residents.

Some volunteers help families who have a child with a disability by looking after the child for a few hours a week or maybe a weekend each month, giving the family a vital break from providing 24-hour care and the child opportunities for new experiences. Volunteers who enjoy working with young people might get involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.

And there’s a new way that you can get involved and do your bit to help others. The Council’s vision is to offer all people who are eligible for care support the chance to tailor that care to their own needs.

Part of this will be giving people control over how the money allocated to help them look after themselves is spent. A major aspect of the change (known as the Putting People First programme) will be to provide services where people actually want them – which is increasingly in the mainstream community – and in the way they want – which is increasingly in flexible and innovative ways.

To do this, the Council needs volunteers to help give support by, for example, sitting with a disabled person whilst their carer pops out to do the food shopping or get vital jobs done. Or perhaps you could help with the shopping or some of the day-to-day tasks.

Putting People First is a genius idea that really has the potential to allow people to tailor care to their needs, to remain active and to help keep their independence. But more volunteers are needed to help support this vital initiative. Whilst the Council has made the care of vulnerable children and adults its top priority, we have limited resources, which is why we need local people to help us.

We are, for example, offering business grants to help small scale care providers to set up in the borough. But we also need volunteers to come forward and help. Anybody who is interested in volunteering can contact the Volunteer Centre Wokingham on (0118) 977 0749 or wok-vol@btconnect.com or visit www.doit.org.uk.

The borough’s volunteers are doing a great job but we need more so don’t be one of those people that sits about saying someone should do something – be that somebody and come along and help. And before you ask – yes, I do volunteer my services, not only as a councillor but as a scout leader. And it’s great fun!

I’ll be back with my next online instalment in a fortnight or so – unless, of course, something tickles my fancy or rattles my cage before then! If there’s anything you’d like me to blog on about, please get in touch! Please also let me know if there is anything you are concerned about in your neighbourhood or the borough as a whole.

Cllr David Lee

Leader of Wokingham Borough Council