Investing in Reading’s Future, Reading Borough Council budget consultation 2022/23
Overview
Reading Borough Council is consulting on its budget for the financial year 2022/23. We are inviting input from people who live and work in Reading, partners, local businesses, and people who come into Reading to use our services.
The consultation is open from 21 December 2021 to 14 January 2022.
If you require this consultation in another format such as large print, braille or in translation please email budget@reading.gov.uk
Why your views matter
Councillor Jason Brock, Leader of Reading Borough Council
It has been another tremendously tough year for everyone due to the continuing disruption caused by the covid pandemic. However, we have continued with our ambitious programme and continue to invest in Reading’s future.
I am delighted that we have started some of our major projects in our community that will benefit you for many years to come.
Our major investment in modern new swimming pools and leisure centres has begun with the steel frame of the swimming pool at Palmer Park going up recently. We expect the new community pool and facilities will open to the public later next year. This is part of our £40 million pound investment in modern leisure facilities for you which includes brand new pools, a modern new leisure centre and improvements to existing leisure facilities.
Our £9 million investment into our residential road and pavements - the biggest ever in Reading - is now into its second year of three.
Reading’s new Green Park Station is due to open next year. We are also refurbishing Reading West Station.
The town’s biggest council house building programme in a generation has also continued this year. More than 300 more high quality and sustainable affordable new homes are set to be built in the next four years. And we have opened our innovative modular homes to help tackle homelessness this winter.
We are also investing for the people who need our help the most, young and old. Modern and fit-for-purpose sheltered housing is being built for older people, supported accommodation and day facilities for vulnerable adults and purpose-built schools for children with special education needs.
I’m pleased to say our work in the community is now also being recognised nationally. The Council recently won the UK Housebuilder of the Year for our tremendous work in building new affordable council homes. We have also been named as one of just 10 local authority areas in the UK – and one of just 95 in the world – to have made the ‘A list’ of towns and cities taking the lead on environment action. Our adult social care team have also been shortlisted for awards for the work they have delivered to support residents who suffered from covid.
Reading’s success has led us to submit our bid for City Status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Celebrations. We remain fully committed to a net zero carbon Reading by 2030 and we have continued with our tree planting and rewilding programme. We also continue to drive up recycling rates through initiatives like our doorstep food waste collection service.
We continue to look for opportunities to make efficiencies – £41 million of savings have been delivered over the past four years by modernising services and making them more efficient and we continue with the work to make your services better for you.
This consultation is an opportunity for all our residents, partners and local businesses to input into our budget proposals for the coming year.
Please do take the opportunity to have your say. We will be finalising and approving the budget in February 2022.
Cllr Jason Brock
Leader of Reading Borough Council
What happens next
Your consultation reponses will be used to help shape the final budget proposal. This will be taken to the full Council meeting in February for approval.
Areas
- All Areas
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