A TOTAL of 18,000 existing postal voters in Reading will need to re-apply for their postal vote this year ahead of the council elections on Thursday 7 May 2026. You can renew your postal vote or apply for the first time here.

Following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, all postal voters are now required to reapply for their postal vote every three years.

All postal voters who made their current application before 31 October 2023 are required to reapply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026. If a new application is not received by this date, the electoral registration officer is required by law to cancel the postal vote and electors will have to vote at a polling station until a new postal vote application is received, or a proxy is appointed.

Councillor Kathryn McCann (Green Party, Redlands Ward) said: “Voting by post makes it really easy to vote. You get your ballot paper a few weeks before election day and can either post it back or hand it in at any polling station. Don’t to get to renew your postal vote or apply for a new one.”

Reading Borough Council’s election team is starting the postal vote re-application process now, giving electors plenty of time to re-apply for their postal vote before the next scheduled election takes place on 7 May 2026.

The quickest and simplest way for electors to make an application is online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. Alternatively, electors can complete and return the form included in the email or letter that is being sent out to those electors required to make a new postal application.

Electors are being advised if they want a paper application form or they no longer wish to vote by post then they should contact elections@reading.gov.uk or write to: Reading Borough Council Electoral Services, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU or telephone: 0118 937 3717.

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First person column by Councillor Rob White

As a Green Party councillor in Reading, I was pleased to hear Keir Starmer’s recent comments about extending eligibility for winter fuel payments. Greens have been petitioning for Labour to U-turn on cuts to winter fuel payments. It’s a clear sign that pressure from the public—and from the Green Party—is working. For months, we’ve been calling out the harm caused by cuts to support for older people, especially here in Reading where so many residents are already struggling with the cost of living.

The Prime Minister is clearly feeling the heat. He’s under mounting pressure from opposition MPs, campaigners, and importantly, from Labour MPs who know these cuts are unjust. But a few carefully chosen words aren’t enough. We need action. The Green Party will keep pushing for full winter fuel support to be restored.

TAX EXTREME WEALTH TO FUND SUPPORT

The Chancellor now has a chance to fix these wrongs in her upcoming fiscal announcements. We are urging her to fund social support by taxing extreme wealth fairly. Instead of letting the richest accumulate even more, we could use those funds to protect millions of pensioners—and to reverse cruel decisions like the £5 billion cuts to welfare and the unfair two-child benefit cap.

Here in Reading, we know the impact of these policies. Constituents tell me how they’re cutting back on heating and food. Pensioners, single parents, and working families are all feeling the squeeze. This isn’t just bad policy—it’s morally wrong.

GREEN PARTY WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS

The Green Party stands with everyone being pushed into poverty by short-sighted government choices. We’ll keep making the case for a more compassionate and equitable society—here in Reading and nationally.

We won’t stop until winter fuel payments are restored, harmful benefit caps are scrapped, and everyone has what they need to live with dignity.

GREENS ARE THE SECOND LARGEST PARTY IN READING

As the main opposition party on Labour-run Reading Council, Green councillors will continue to work constructively to get the best for Reading residents. There are now eight Green Party councillors and we have more councillors than the Conservatives and Lib Dems combined. We will keep working hard all year round on the issues that matter to residents.
If you’re keen on being part of the change in Reading, get involved and help us make Reading fairer, greener and cleaner: http:\\reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved

By Councillor Rob White (Green Party, Park Ward)
Leader of the main opposition group on Reading Borough Council

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The Regulator of Social Housing has found the council’s council house repair service to be both slow and ineffective.

Councillor Louise Keane says, “There are currently a whopping 1,600 overdue repairs. This is down from the peak but still too high. Greens will keep up the pressure on the council to do better.”

Greens have been continuing to keep up the pressure on this with Councillor Rob White asking a question at the Policy Committee. It was revealed that despite a council improvement plan the number of overdue repairs has gone up to 1,791.

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The more people who get involved, the more of a difference we can make on issues like this. If you have time to help deliver leaflets or knock on doors, then get in contact (https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/). Or why not join the Green Party (https://join.greenparty.org.uk/)?

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Reading Green Party is calling on Labour-run Reading Council to end its spending on free party food and alcohol at the annual Council AGM, arguing it is unjustifiable during a non-essential spending freeze and service cuts.

Currently, Reading Council is under a non-essential spending and recruitment freeze. This means halting spending on non-critical council services and severely restricting recruitment.

At the Council AGM 159 people attended mainly consisting of councillors and their guests. £4,866 was spent on free food and alcohol.

Councillor Rob White, leader of the Green Party group—the main opposition on Reading Council—said:

“At a time when the Labour-run council is under a non-essential spending freeze and vital services are being cut, it’s completely wrong for Labour to be spending public money on free food and alcohol at the Council AGM.

“Reading Council faces a projected £9.6 million overspend. Labour’s budget has already cut funding for tackling inequality, rough sleeping and children’s services. Council tax has gone up by 4.9% again. Meanwhile one in four children in Reading live in poverty.

“Councillors and guests should pay for themselves. The nearly £5000 of taxpayer money which is currently paying for free booze and party food would be far better spent supporting the local food bank.

“Green Party councillors attended the AGM and gave thanks to both the outgoing and incoming mayors. However we didn’t take part in the free alcohol and food and we donated to the local food bank.

“At the recent local elections around the country, Labour lost two-thirds of the seats it was defending whilst the Green Party gained seats for the 8th year running. Nationally, Labour is becoming more unpopular because of cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners, Labour support for the two-child benefit cap, and plans to slash disability benefits —policies that are pushing people further into poverty.

“Labour needs to work in the interests of residents, or it risks losing more councillors in Reading next year.”

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The more people who get involved, the more of a difference we can make on issues like this. If you have time to help deliver leaflets or knock on doors, then get in contact (https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/). Or why not join the Green Party (https://join.greenparty.org.uk/)?

The post Reading Labour councillors criticised for splurging on free party food and booze at Council AGM amid cuts appeared first on Reading & Wokingham Green Party.

The government has announced that we will have to wait between 12 and 14 years for a new Royal Berkshire Hospital to start to be built in Reading, breaking election promises made by all three of Reading’s new Labour MPs. Meanwhile the health system is broken. Child mortality is going up. Life expectancy is going down. Avoidable deaths – those tragedies science can already prevent – are going up.

People are afraid for their parents, their kids and their grandkids.

If you’re keen on being part of the making Reading fairer and greener I urge you to get involved.

POLITICAL FINGER-POINTING WON’T FIX THE NHS

Recently at council the Conservatives tabled a hypocritical motion accusing Labour of broken promises and more delays. Labour countered with an arrogant amendment full of platitudes but short on specifics. I watched with despair as this devolved into childish bickering between Labour and Conservative councillors over who is the bigger failure.

While their governments come and go the broken election promises remain and the public gets the same raw deal.

THE DRIVEL THAT PASSES FOR DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

I do wonder what the public must think when they read about this sort of stuff in the paper. No solutions, just finger-pointing while people wait in A&E and die in corridors, sometimes alone. Ultimately, we could not support Reading Labour’s tone-deaf amendment as it was dismissive of the heartbreaking reality. We are not interested in excuses, just get on with providing a modern, fit for purpose new Royal Berkshire Hospital.

GREENS NOW THE SECOND LARGEST PARTY IN READING

The Greens now have more councillors than the Conservatives and Lib Dems combined. We will keep working hard all year round to get the best for Reading residents. If you’re keen on being part of the change in Reading I urge you to get involved.

By Cllr Dave McElroy (Green Party, Redlands Ward, 2024 MP candidate for Reading Central)

The post Greens want a new Royal Berkshire Hospital now appeared first on Reading & Wokingham Green Party.

Labour-run Reading Council to cut budget for tackling inequality at council budget setting meeting. The proposed cuts will directly and severely impact local residents by reducing support for essential community projects that promote sports, education, skills development, and cultural activities.

Labour councillors are proposing cutting the inequality budget in South Reading – Church Ward and Whitley Ward. The plan would reduce the £340,000 budget by £230,000, leaving only £110,000 available. While staff funding remains intact, money for running project to tackle inequality is being slashed. The detail of these cuts are hidden in budget papers only available to councillors. Previously, these funds supported community activities covering sports, education, skills development, culture, career advice, and the community ambassadors’ network.

Councillor Rob White stated, “In recent years, poverty in Reading has unfortunately been on the increase. Reading has both severely deprived areas and very wealthy areas. The difference between life expectancy in the richest part of town and the poorest part of town is 7 years. Inequality is bad because it marginalizes vulnerable residents and weakens community cohesion. Cutting this money means the council has less capacity to address urgent social challenges. Greens believe tackling inequality should be a top priority. Despite a new government, we have shifted from Conservative austerity straight into Labour austerity, leaving our residents at risk.”

The post Reading Council to Slash £230,000 from Inequality Budget Impacting Community Projects appeared first on Reading & Wokingham Green Party.

Despite a Labour-run Reading Council house building programme, the total number of council homes in Reading has decreased by five between 2021 and 2023, impacting residents in need of affordable housing.

Data from the council reveals a net loss of five council homes, with the number dropping from 6,987 in 2021/22 to 6,982 in 2023/24. This reduction is attributed to the loss of homes through ‘right to buy’ sales, leaving fewer affordable homes available for local families. ‘Right to buy’ has been called one of the biggest acts of privatisation ever undertaken, transferring over £40 billion worth of value away from local authorities in the last 45 years, leaving millions of people in ‘grotty privately rented accomodation’.

In 2023, it was reported that Reading had the largest council house waitlist in the county with 3,187 households waiting for a council property. Rough sleeping in Reading is also at an all-time high.

Councillor Dave McElroy (Green Party, Redlands Ward, 2024 MP candidate) commented:

“It is crazy that during a housing crisis, Reading has lost council homes overall – down by five, despite council house building. This loss directly impacts families and individuals who are struggling to find affordable housing. While we acknowledge the efforts to build new homes, the overall loss shows the need for a more effective strategy locally and nationally.

“Greens in Reading want more investment in building council houses which are the homes we really need. We don’t need any more unaffordable luxury flats going up in the town centre for example! We also need to see changes at Westminster that protect the public housing stocks we already have. Green MPs are working for this at a national level.”

The more people who get involved, the more of a difference we can make on issues like this. If you have time to help deliver leaflets or knock on doors, then get in contact (https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/). Or why not join the Green Party (https://join.greenparty.org.uk/)?

The post Reading Loses Council Homes Despite House building Efforts appeared first on Reading & Wokingham Green Party.

Labour-run Reading Council has admitted that 6,136 parking fines were issued in error due to a faulty legal process. The council estimates that about £360,000 will need to be refunded to residents.

Mike Harling, Battle Ward campaigner says: “This blunder means that the town’s already stretched public services will be worse off by up to £360,000. That’s money that could have been spent on emptying bins on time, tackling homelessness or cutting carbon emissions.

Residents can learn more here: www.bit.ly/rdgukrefund

Mike continued: “The more people who get involved, the more of a difference we can make on issues like this. If you have time to help deliver leaflets or knock on doors, then get in contact (https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/). Or why not join the Green Party (https://join.greenparty.org.uk/)?”

The post Fines blunder may cost Labour-run Reading council £360,000 appeared first on Reading & Wokingham Green Party.

Greens were disappointed that Labour raised the bus fare cap from £2 to £3. Reading Buses say that ‘not all fares will rise to this level’, implying many will go up. Councillor Dave McElroy has raised this at a council meeting.

Cllr McElroy says, “Greens are campaigning for investment in affordable, joined up and reliable public transport.

“The more people who get involved, the more of a difference we can make on issues like this. If you have time to help deliver leaflets or knock on doors, then get in contact (https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/). Or why not join the Green Party (https://join.greenparty.org.uk/)?”

UPDATE: more information is available from Reading Buses https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/new-single-fares-1-january

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Fly-tipping is up, but the anti-fly tipping team is issuing significantly fewer fines for dumping waste this year. Greens are calling for more people in the anti-fly-tipping team.

Councillor Rob White (Green Party, Park Ward) said: “It is a shame that Labour councillors haven’t resourced the anti-fly-tipping team properly. Fewer fines are being issued and fly-tipping remains a problem.

“Greens would like to see more resource for tackling fly-tipping, but unfortunately the council is going in the opposite direction, cutting the free bulky waste collection service which was designed to help tackle fly-tipping.

“Nationally Greens are campaigning for the Labour government to fund councils properly, to force manufacturers to produce less packaging, and to promote reuse and repair. This would cut down on the rubbish on our roads and mean councils were better resourced to tackle what remains.”

The more people who get involved, the more of a difference we can make on issues like this. If you have time to help deliver leaflets or knock on doors, then get in contact (https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/). Or why not join the Green Party (https://join.greenparty.org.uk/)?

The post Fly-tipping up but fines down by 37% in Reading appeared first on Reading & Wokingham Green Party.