THE LEADER of Wokingham Borough Council was grilled on what she believed were the most pressing issues facing the authority by her fellow councillors.

Charlotte Haitham-Taylor, leader of Wokingham Borough Council, and Manjeet Gill, the Chief Executive of the council, were both questioned on what they believed the most pressing issues to be at a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee.

When asked by councillor Lindsay Ferris what they thought the biggest challenges the council were facing were, Mrs Gill said that the task of becoming a 21st century council had left Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) “between a rock and a hard place” as funding falls and demand for a wide range of services increases.

The Chief Executive said she “saw austerity as an opportunity” in her previous job at another local authority, but claimed that the increase in demand for social care services combined with the lack of funding from central government was like “trying to walk up an escalator that is going down.”

Council leader Charlotte Haitham Taylor replied that she was concerned with the state of social care funding, claiming that an increase in the ageing population and a 40% increase in the demand for children’s care was making provisions difficult for the council.

At the start of the meeting both councillors commented on the pre-occupation of the national government with the Brexit process, with leader Haitham Taylor commenting that because of this local authorities “priorities” were being sidelined.

Town centre regeneration was also discussed in great depth with a number of issues arising.

Cllr Lindsay Ferris claimed some of the businesses in the town centre were “hanging on” because of the impact of all the nearby constructions taking place, and asked about whether the new commercial properties being built will even be filled.

Leader Charlotte Haitham Taylor replied saying: “I’m excited about what is coming and I am excited about some of the names we are talking to.

“Some of the businesses are exciting and innovative.”