District councillors set to be appointed to Hermitage Parish Council

West Berkshire Council is working to support Hermitage Parish Council while it holds elections.

It follows the resignation of councillors that have left the council with three parish councillors - with four the minimum it's constitution requires to be able to formally hold meetings or make decisions. Where this happens, legislation allows district councils to step in and appoint enough parish councillors for it to continue to operate.

Over the past few days West Berkshire Council has been working with the clerk of Hermitage Parish Council and is proposing to temporarily appoint West Berkshire Councillors Paul Dick and Heather Codling to the parish council. This is set to be to be considered at an Extraordinary Council meeting next Thursday (11 September).

This arrangement will remain in place until an election for parish councillors can be held - or otherwise for a councillor to be co-opted onto the council.

Councillor Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council, said:

"Parish councils play an important role in supporting their local communities. It's important they can hold meetings, make decisions and address the issues which matter most to their residents. The action we are taking here will allow this important work to continue in Hermitage and I'm grateful to all who have been working to make it happen over the past few days."

The meeting next Thursday begins at 5.30pm will be held at the Council's offices in Market Street, Newbury. It is open to the public and will be streamed live on West Berkshire Council's YouTube channel.