Dear Editor,
It has been a whirlwind week in politics. The new Prime Minister has started as he intends to continue – with energy, dynamism, and a commitment to tackling the deep-rooted problems facing our country.
I was delighted to hear the Prime Minister’s announcement that eligible single fares on participating buses will be capped at £2 from next year. In Bracknell Forest, residents already benefit from the existing £3 cap, but reducing it further will make bus travel across our borough more affordable and attractive, while keeping more money in people’s pockets. It will also strengthen our administration’s efforts as we start our Supported Bus Review – our signature effort to examine our entire subsidised bus network and how we can maximise our coverage while making the best use of finite public resources.
When Cllr Helen Purnell took office as Leader of Bracknell Forest Council, she announced one of her key priorities was to examine the feasibility of the Council once again providing council housing, and we are encouraged by the Prime Minister’s commitment to deliver “the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period.” We eagerly await the detailed ten-year national plan which will be published later this year.
Finally, devolution can bring enormous benefits to our community, enabling regional control over transport and infrastructure funding, and linking planning to local regeneration strategies. The Prime Minister may have been called ‘The King of the North’, but he only achieved great things for Greater Manchester by having the tools of devolution, and I have no doubt our area can equally benefit from having greater control of our own destiny.
In the United States, they often talk about the first 100 days of a new President. As I write this, we’re only 3 days into the Prime Minister’s new administration. If this is the rate at which exciting new policies are being announced, I dare to imagine what will be on the table a month from now.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Guy Gillbe
Labour, Easthampstead & Wildridings