West Berkshire - Politics

Politics

West Berkshire District Council
Type
Founded 1998
Type Unicameral
Leadership
Chairman Peter Argyle, Conservative
Leader of the Council Graham Jones, Conservative
Opposition Group Leader Jeff Brooks, Liberal Democrats
Structure
Seats 52
Political groups

Executive

  • Conservative (39)


Shadow Executive

  • Liberal Democrat (13)
Committees 10
  • Overview and Scrutiny Management
  • Health Scrutiny
  • Resource Management Working Group
  • Licensing
  • District Planning
  • Eastern Area Planning
  • Western Area Planning
  • Governance and Audit
  • Personnel
  • Standards
Elections
Voting system Single member plurality & Plurality at large
Last election 5 May 2011
Meeting place
Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury
Website
West Berkshire Council

Since 5 May 2005 the council is Conservative-controlled because of a by-election in Thatcham North. Before that, the Liberal Democrats and Conservative Party had an equal number of seats but the Liberal Democrats had control due to the casting vote of the council chairman. The Liberal Democrats had first taken power in 1991.

The district is approximately coterminous with the parliamentary constituency of Newbury, except for areas to the east where parts of West Berkshire are incorporated into the constituencies of Wokingham and Reading West.

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