West Berkshire Community Forums are back!

Community Forums will ensure that positive engagement is undertaken, and information and views are gathered that will help to inform Council decisions. They will also allow residents the chance to learn about and have their say on topics which affect them, working with their community groups and stakeholders. Topics will vary and relate to matters of interest to particular interest groups or areas across the district.

The Community Forums will operate in a hybrid manner with Members of the Executive attending along with the Chief Executive or the relevant Executive Director, supported by officers with specialist knowledge of the discussion topics. This will give residents the opportunity to attend meetings about matters that interest them, whether that is in person at our Market Street Offices or from their own homes.

The first forum will take place on Thursday 17 August at 6.00pm and they will be held roughly quarterly thereafter as appropriate issues arise. The first forum will be about the sports ground at Faraday Road.

You will need to register in advance if you wish to attend the Community Forum whether that is in person or online to manage numbers in the Council Chamber. If you wish to attend in person, please email executivecycle@westberks.gov.uk to confirm your attendance and if you wish to attend online please register by visiting this link. The Community Forums will also be recorded and put on YouTube for residents to view after the event.

Councillor Lee Dillion, Leader of West Berkshire Council said:

"When we were elected, we promised to listen to residents. Re-establishing community forums is the first step of this plan, as residents will be able to have an input and give feedback at in- person meetings. We are proud to bring back Community Forums within the first 100 days in office and want to continue to listen to residents on topics that matter to them.

Together we can work to build a better West Berkshire where everyone has a voice and is heard."

Councillor Tony Vickers, Portfolio Holder for Planning & Community Engagement said:

"These Community Forums are a key way in which we can ensure that residents are listened to and their opinion is heard. By re-introducing them we can establish that relationship between the Council and its residents to make a stronger community that all can get involved in. We are proud to work with residents and ensure that they are involved in topics that interest them. By working with residents, community groups we can make sure we create strong communities."