Clash Erupts Over Earley Community Centre Management

A row between two councils has broken out over who runs Earley’s community centres.

Earley Town Council looks after several hireable halls and parks in the town. But Wokingham Borough Council owns the buildings as freeholder and, as corporate landlord, makes some of the key decisions.

Radstock Lane Community Centre was run by the town council until the borough handed the lease to the Orchard Learning Alliance, which runs Radstock Primary School. The Silverdale Centre was closed in March 2023 and plans to replace it with a special school were approved in October.

These changes were questioned at a full meeting of Wokingham Borough Council last month.

Conservative town councillor Pauline Jorgensen, speaking for Radstock ward, warned of poor communications: "Earley Town Councillors are becoming increasingly frustrated that the Borough Council is not communicating professionally with our permanent staff about changes being made to properties, services and facilities in Earley."

She added that the town council had voted to ask borough leaders to improve how they communicate: "Recently, Earley Town Council, at a full council meeting, voted unanimously to ask that this issue be highlighted and to ask the leader and CEO of the borough council to review communications with Earley Town Council and instruct officers to communicate with us through official channels in a timely manner."

Wokingham leader Stephen Conway replied by praising the town council and offering to meet: "First, let me put on record my appreciation of all the work that Earley Town Council does for its local community." He went on, "To this end, I would like to invite the leader of Earley Town Council and the town clerk to meet with me and senior borough council officers so we can address your town council's concerns."

David Hare is leader of Earley Town Council, a borough councillor for Hawkedon and the executive member for adult services, health and wellbeing. Councillor Jorgensen leads the opposition on the town council.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter