West Berkshire Council's Gift Declarations Revealed

West Berkshire Council has published its gifts register - but the detail has largely gone. Where 2018 entries named bacon sandwiches, bottles of Prosecco and even pink gin, today it's mostly totals and tokens such as tea and coffee.

The report to the personnel and standards committee shows 51 declarations by officers in 2025/26, up slightly from 47 the year before. The total value declared was £738.30, an average of £14.48 - mostly small items.

The council says the CEO was offered 29 gifts, turning down 20 of them. For members, the report records three declarations, but a trawl of councillors' registers found two councillors declared eight gifts between them.

Nigel Foot (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill) logged a dinner invitation for his role as portfolio holder for culture - value £35. Council chair Stephanie Steevenson (Lib Dem, Thatcham Central) declared a string of small items: drinks from The Newbury and District Agricultural Society (£5); food and drink from the Lord Lieutenant (£10); tea and coffee from 420 Munitions Squadron (£5); tea and coffee at the Freedom of the Town Parade (£5); tea and coffee from SERFCA Berkshire and Surrey Armed Forces (£5); a buffet and drinks from Newbury Royal British Legion Club (£15); and tea and coffee from Falkland Grange Care Home (£5).

Numbers are down on previous years, though many offers fall below the £25 threshold that requires declaration.

The rules exist to show no undue influence is being applied to the council or its spending. "It should be noted that in addition to the risk that there could be a perception of impropriety, the acceptance of a gift or hospitality could amount to an offence under the Bribery Act 2010," explained the monitoring officer who looks after such things.

"Staff and members have been reminded of the need to declare any gifts or hospitality received in accordance with the Gifts and Hospitality Protocol."

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter