Work With Parish Councils Brings Beacon Status For West Berkshire Council

2.17.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Mar 2006

News that West Berkshire Council has been awarded Beacon Council Status for excellence in developing Parish Plans has been welcomed by opposition Environment Executive Member and former Council Leader Royce Longton. The Beacon Scheme identifies excellence and innovation in Local Government, and is designed to ensure that good practice is shared.

The Council has been working with Parish Councils for several years, encouraging them to participate and assisting them in developing their Parish Plans. The Plans are the result of widespread consultation between the Parish Councils and their local communities. They help to ensure that the views of the community are taken into consideration, for example in the development of planning policy.

The Council's bid for Beacon Status was awarded 6 out of 6, a score that is defined as "outstanding".

Lib Dem spokesman for Environment and Planning Dr Royce Longton (Burghfield) said "Parish Planning was initiated by West Berkshire Council under the Liberal Democrats. We made it a priority because listening to the views of local communities is central to our philosophy. This initiative also fosters a good working relationship with Parish Councils, and has revealed a number of areas where the aspirations of local people could be met with limited expenditure. We were acknowledged as being well ahead of the game when the Council changed control last May. I am delighted that the Council under Conservative control continued with our initiative with such as successful result".

West Berkshire Council has been greatly assisted in its Parish Planning work by Community Action West Berkshire, The West Berkshire Partnership, Vodafone, Greenham Common Trust, Purley Parish Council and Yattendon Parish Council.