"Filomena (my wife) and I moved to Wokingham from neighbouring Reading over 22 years ago, in part for the green spaces and to live in what we perceive as a more community focused Borough.

Full statement

I will work to enable and facilitate the needs of the Emmbrook Ward from a Local and Borough perspective. Being aligned to a political party (Conservative) will assist me in promoting your ideas and suggestions to deliver a better future. I am recently retired from a full-time occupation, working in the IT arena and after 19 years with a technology giant, where I led the world-wide education and certification programme for cybersecurity. My future will focus on being an active councillor on your behalf (if elected) and working part-time as a consultant, assisting to define and deliver the desired outcomes of any organisation underpinned by IT, coupled with the realising the associated value and return on investment. This is very similar to what your elected councillors should be doing on your behalf, with regard to the services you receive in return for the council tax you pay. Wokingham Borough is often voted one of the top places in the country to live and this attracts more and more people who want to live here however, this needs to be balanced with maintaining and improving the existing facilities for local residents, whilst protecting our town and village communities from unwanted development that the local infrastructure cannot support. In short, any proposed development should be viewed in terms of sustainability – Can the doctors, schools and roads support the additional houses? Can our children be schooled locally, or what will be the cost of transporting our children to and from schools outside their area? Working in concert with your other ward councillors to oppose over development and to preserve the character of our town and village communities – An example will be to vote against the inclusion of Rooks Nest Farm as a development site in the local plan. WBC have made improvements in Wokingham town centre and continue to do so, in facilities such as the new Carnival Pool Leisure Centre, I would like to see more investment in our local town and village communities. Becoming a new councillor representing Emmbrook, means a fresh pair of eyes. Not constricted by the past or proposed future plans. Working together to improve both the ward and the Borough. With is in mind, I would like focus on the following: 1. Listen to the ideas and suggestions from Emmbrook residents and your Town Council. 2. Return to a weekly collection of household waste. 3. Oppose any development that cannot prove sustainability in the proposed area. 4. Advocate the removal of housing targets, replacing them with verified sustainability proposals to increase the housing stock available. 5. Fixing potholes and Improving roads, possibly aligning this investment to the collection of parking fees etc. Finally, I would like your vote in order to support managing your Borough Council based on a practical, pragmatic and affordable approach, one that we can all justify and be proud of. Thank you for your attention and consideration. John F McDermott (Please don't forget to vote - Even if not for me)!