Beth elected as mayor, Adrian Mather as her

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@wokingham.today

THE NEW Wokingham Borough

Mayor for the coming year was elected at the annual meeting of council on May 18.

Cllr Beth Rowland has taken over the chain of office from Cllr Caroline Smith.

As the ‘first citizen’ of the borough, the mayor holds a civic role, representing the council and the people of the borough as well as presiding over borough council meetings.

Conservatives reveal shadow exec

WOKINGHAM’S Conservative group has announced its shadow executive for the new municipal year.

At the recent local elections, the party lost four seats, reducing the number of seats on the borough council to just 22.

Two councillors, John Kaiser and Gregor Murray, stepped down, while Parry Batth and Chris Bowring, lost their seats. Others, including Laura Blumenthal, Alison Swaddle and Michael Firmager, held on to their seats and remain on the council.

As a result, they remain as the opposition party, with the

Liberal Democrats running a minority administration as they are one short of an overall majority.

The Conservative group voted to keep Cllr Pauline Jorgensen as its leader for the next 12 months.

Cllr Charles Margetts will remain in his role as spokesperson for highways and transport.

Cllr Stuart Munro will be the shadow executive member for regeneration, neighbourhoods, communities, business, and economic development. Finance and waste services will be the brief of Cllr Norman Jorgensen.

Cllr Graham Howe continues to look at children’s services, and Cllr Phil Cunnington’s brief is health, wellbeing and adult services.

Hurst councillor Wayne Smith remains in his role of planning and enforcement, and strategic development.

Environment and leisure will be the portfolio of Cllr Rebecca Margetts.

Climate Emergency and environmental protection now becomes Cllr Peter Harper’s role, and Cllr Laura Blumenthal remains the spokesperson for levelling up, equality and social housing.

Unless His Majesty The King or his representative is in attendance, the mayor takes precedence over any other dignitaries at events within the borough.

Cllr Rowland said: “I am delighted to serve as your Wokingham Borough Mayor and would like to thank people for putting their faith in me for the coming year.

“I will carry out this position to the best of my ability and hope to live up to the legacy of my predecessor, Cllr Caroline Smith who has been a great example to us all.

“As Mayor I look forward to meeting residents as well as many of the great organisations active across the Borough.

“It’s an opportunity to show how they are valued as well as shining a spotlight on the fantastic work they are doing to make Wokingham Borough such a wonderful place.”

Cllr Rowland represents the South Lake Ward in Woodley, where she has been a resident for almost 50 years. She has four children, all educated locally, and eight grandchildren.

She has also been a governor at South Lake Primary School for nearly 40 years and for more than 20 years at Highwood Primary School.

With more than 25 years of experience as a councillor, Cllr

Rowland also served as Mayor of Woodley in 2000. She is also a Woodley Town councillor, a trustee at Waingels Academy and has worked at Berkshire Credit Union since her retirement more than a decade ago. She is also a member of Christ Church in Woodley.

Last year, Cllr Rowland raised £1,250 for Macmillan Cancer Support after having her head shaved in public. She ‘braved the shave’ having been inspired by several people in her life who were diagnosed with cancer. The mayor is traditionally