LABOUR HAVE PUT UP YOUR COUNCIL TAX BY 22%* IN 6 YEARS

But cannot provide assurances on how your money has been spent 2016/17 accounts still not signed off **by Council’s Independent Auditors

THINK YOU ARE GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY FROM READING’S LABOUR COUNCIL?

*Average Band C ** As of 16/04/2018 A CONSERVATIVE COUNCIL IN READING WILL DELIVER

Council Tax increase below A place for every child in 1 inflation—and fix Labour’s 4 a good local school by mess of the Council’s finances delivering more school places

Removal of the Green Cut the cost of local politics 2 Bin charge and a weekly 5 —reduce the number of collection of Black Bins in the councillors and elections summer from May-September every four years as in neighbouring councils A major road resurfacing programme across Reading— 3 fixing allpotholes

IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE VOTE CONSERVATIVE ON 3 MAY News from Reading West Conservatives MORE GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO FIX POTHOLES Helen Manghnani, Tilehurst Candidate, points out a pothole which caused damage to local residents’ cars. Reading’s roads are in a And at the end of March the shocking state—because of the Government announced a further Labour Council’s neglect we appear £100 million for local councils to to be the ‘Pothole Capital’ of the help repair potholes. country! Reading Council is getting money The Government is already from this £100 million fund. providing a record £6 billion to local It’s time to get the potholes fixed authorities between 2015 and 2021 before they do more damage to to maintain and improve their roads. local residents’ cars!

LABOUR GOVERNMENT HELPS COUNCIL OUT READING COUNCIL IN EQUAL PAY WITH BUSINESS RATES DISPUTE RETENTION PILOT Reading’s Labour Council has been The Government announced at the This will give local councils the levers taken to an Industrial Tribunal Raj Singh, Kentwood end of last year that Reading Council, and incentives they need to grow their and had to pay over £3 million to ward Council along with the five other councils in local economies. women employees who were paid Berkshire, will be included in a new 100% Ultimately this will mean more money less than men. business rates retention pilot scheme. Candidate, welcomes for public services in Reading which is Over 90 cases are still outstanding funding boost The pilot will test out aspects of a welcomed! and the Labour Council has already new future business rates retention spent over £1.5 million of Council delivered by pilot. programme, due to be implemented in Taxpayers’ money on legal costs 2020/21. defending it’s position. A Trade Union official was reported in the local press to have noted: “The council’s actions are nothing short of immoral.” By contrast the Conservative Government has introduced ground-breaking regulations, requiring large employers across all sectors to publish the differences between what they pay their male and female staff in average salaries and bonuses. The Government is encouraging organisations to go beyond the mandatory requirements by, for example, publishing an action plan setting out how to close the gender pay gap.

CONSERVATIVES WORKING HARD FOR READING ALL YEAR ROUND ON YOUR SIDE, CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY News from Reading West Conservatives

GOVERNMENT CONSERVATIVES MONEY FOR DELIVER 30 LOCAL HOUSING HOURS’ FREE INFRASTRUCTURE CHILDCARE Zac Okeyo, Norcot ward Council Candidate, has welcomed £6 million for Dee Park Regeneration

Despite Labour Reading Council not Regeneration from the National Housing doing enough to get affordable homes Infrastructure Fund. built locally, Conservatives in This money will help to deliver more government are stepping up to the homes, faster. The Government plate. recognises that it is vital to deliver local Recently the Government announced £6 infrastructure to support more home million of extra money for the Dee Park building.

Nick Fudge, Minster ward Council Candidate, pictured above with his grandchildren, welcomes the Government’s help for working parents with the cost of childcare. Conservatives have doubled free across the country are now benefitting childcare to 30 hours a week for 3 and from this change allowing them greater 4 year-olds since September 2017. flexibility in their working life. Hundreds of thousands of parents

THE CONSERVATIVE FOCUS ON DELIVERING GOVERNMENT — APPRENTICESHIPS HELPING YOU WITH Rob Vickers, Southcote ward THE COST OF LIVING Council Candidate, We have increased personal We are helping more people who used to run his allowances, so a typical basic to buy a home of their own by rate taxpayer will pay £1,075 abolishing stamp duty for 80 own business, is a less income tax than in 2010 per cent of first time buyers keen supporter of the 4 million of the lowest paid 12 million pensioners are workers have been taken out getting a boost to their state Government’s focus of income tax altogether pension – giving them greater on apprenticeships. security in retirement We have also boosted incomes for the lowest paid Fuel duty has been frozen for Since 2010 there have been around workers by £2,000 through the eighth year running, 3.5 million apprenticeship starts in the National Living Wage saving the typical car driver England, with around 7,000 in the £850 and the average van Reading West constituency. We are helping working driver over £2,100, compared The Government has also established parents with the cost of to Labour’s plans childcare by doubling free industry-designed degree level childcare to 30 hours a week apprenticeships which bring together for 3 & 4-year-olds the very best of higher and vocational education.

CONSERVATIVES WORKING HARD FOR READING ALL YEAR ROUND ON YOUR SIDE, CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY YOUR CONSERVATIVE COUNCIL CANDIDATES IN READING WEST FOR THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ON 3 MAY, 2018

MICHAEL HEY—BATTLE WARD NICK FUDGE—MINSTER WARD

Michael has lived in Battle for Nick has lived in Coley for over several years. He served as an 30 years and runs his own local Officer in the Royal Navy and business, specialising in printing worked in the offshore oil and gas and graphic design. industry. A keen campaigner, he has taken Michael now volunteers with a local up local issues including parking charitable organisation. problems in Coley and protecting Reading’s heritage and environment.

ZACHARY OKEYO —NORCOT WARD ROB VICKERS—SOUTHCOTE WARD

Zach has lived in Norcot for Rob has lived in Southcote for 20 17 years and works within the years and ran his own construction transport sector in Reading. business. He has also served as a Zach regularly volunteers trade union representative. alongside business communities Rob has a keen interest in local within Reading to promote and issues, and wants to see anti-social encourage local investment. behaviour tackled in the area.

HELEN MANGHNANI —TILEHURST WARD HELEN HOPPER — WHITLEY WARD

Helen has lived in Tilehurst for Helen has lived in Reading for 18 over 25 years and is retired after years and works as a Freelance a lifetime of service in the public Copywriter, with a particular sector, including positions within interest in sustainable business, the Prison Service, the Police Force education and IT. and the Minsitry of Defence. Helen is an active member of her Helen now volunteers with local church. voluntary and charity groups across Reading

RAJ SINGH —KENTWOOD WARD EMMA WARMAN —KENTWOOD WARD

Raj has lived and worked in Emma has lived in Kentwood Ward Reading for over 6 years as a for over 10 years and works in Project Manager in the technology compliance for an insurance broker. sector. Emma previously served as a Raj regularly helps Reading-based Councillor for Kentwood Ward NHS and Alzheimer charities. Raj between 2008 and 2012 and has also volunteers his time to support been a Governor of a local primary young students throughout their school. education.

WHY ARE THERE TWO CANDIDATES STANDING FOR KENTWOOD WARD THIS YEAR? This year there are two councillors to be elected in Kentwood ward. This is because Conservative Councillor A hugely popular local resident, Tom had We wish Tom all the best in his retirement Tom Steele stepped down in April due to served as a Kentwood Councillor for 7 and Raj and Emma hope to carry on his family and health reasons. years — from 2007 to 2011 and then again excellent work if elected on 3 May with from 2015 to 2018. your support.

Promoted by Connor Taylor, on behalf of Reading West Conservative Association, both of 16c Upton Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4BJ. Printed by A Local Printer Ltd, 18 Robell Way, Water Lane, Storrington, West Sussex, RH20 3DN

For a strong and effective councillor team, vote Conservative on 3 May