Labour has laid out its pitch to Reading voters ahead of the local elections on Thursday 7 May, asking to be trusted to continue running Reading Borough Council, which it has controlled since 2010.
The party highlights independent recognition of the town: an economic powerhouse, named the best place to live in the South East by The Sunday Times, a top spot for under-35s, and one of the greenest urban areas nationally.
Its plan for the year ahead focuses on:
- stronger enforcement against littering and fly tipping
- more council house building and support for private tenants and landlords
- keeping fortnightly bin collections and recycling services
- more pothole repairs and full road resurfacing
- upgrades to the Central Library, Hexagon theatre, leisure centres and parks
The council says it successfully lobbied the previous Conservative government for £19.1 million to create a new Central Library at the Civic Offices and to upgrade The Hexagon; both projects are ongoing.
Labour points out Reading has kept fortnightly bin collections while neighbouring West Berkshire, run by the Liberal Democrats, moved to three-weekly collections. It also says Reading has produced balanced budgets without government bailouts, unlike West Berkshire, Lib Dem controlled Royal Borough of Windsor and Miadenhead, and Conservative run Slough Borough Council.
Councillor Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the leader of the Labour group on Reading council, said: “Reading is frequently judged to be one of the top ten places in the UK where people want to live, work, raise a family and grow old, as well as being one of the country’s greenest urban areas.
“Your Labour council is proud of these independent accolades – but is neither complacent about these achievements nor unrealistic about the challenges which lie ahead. We believe we are stronger as a united Reading, and we reject those who seek to divide us.
“While we have a positive programme for this year and the beyond, we will also be reminding voters that none of the other parties on the council proposed any changes or any programme of their own when we set the council’s budget for 2026/27 – where, by law, you need to show how your plans will be paid for.
“The opposition will have no place to hide if they now start making unfunded promises to seek votes, and I’m sure residents will see through their empty pledges.”
Labour is standing in all 16 wards of Reading Borough at the election on 7 May. Seven incumbent councillors will be defending their seats. The party’s manifesto is available online.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
