Following West Berkshire Council’s Annual Meeting yesterday, the Council is pleased to announce the new Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Council for the Municipal Year 2021-2022.

The Chairman of West Berkshire Council is Councillor Clive Hooker, Ward Member for Downlands. Councillor Hooker will be supported during his civic year by his wife, Mrs Christine Hooker.

The Chairman is the formal representative of West Berkshire Council and as well as presiding over Council meetings they also officiate at civic functions and also welcome distinguished visitors of national and international significance on behalf of the district.

Chairman Clive Hooker said:

“It’s an honour to have been elected as Chairman. I’m looking forward to the year ahead and, Covid permitting, getting out and about to attend local events on behalf of the Council. On behalf of the Council, I would also like to thank Councillor Pask for his impeccable services to the Council over the past two years.”

The Vice-Chairman of West Berkshire Council is Councillor Rick Jones, Ward Member for Tilehurst and Purley. Councillor Jones will be supported by his wife, Mrs Val Jones.

The outgoing Chairman is the Council’s longest serving Councillor, Councillor Graham Pask. Councillor Pask has served on West Berkshire Council and its predecessor Newbury District Council for an impressive 34 years having been first elected as Bucklebury Ward Member in 1987. Councillor Pask also attends the meetings of four local Parish Councils on a regular basis, in his role as District Councillor.

Councillor Pask has now completed a total of three years in the role of Chairman of Council having first fulfilled the role from 2010 to 2011. Councillor Pask has just completed two consecutive years as Chairman from 2019 to 2021, having agreed to see the Council through the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Councillor Pask has provided a safe pair of hands as Chairman and has brought his knowledge and experience to the role of civic leader during these troubled times.

During the past year, Councillor Pask has supported Council initiatives such as the Looked after Children Celebration Awards, Community Santa, The Giving Tree and the Community Champion Awards.

Former Chairman Graham Pask said:

“It is a privilege to represent the people of West Berkshire and I’ll look back on my time as Chairman with a great deal of pride. It was an unusual time to be Chairman, but over the past year I’ve been able to see first-hand the wonderful work which has been done by the Council and local communities. I wish Councillor Hooker every success in the role, and hope he enjoys it as much as I did.”

As his term of office came to an end, Councillor Graham Pask expressed his thanks to all who have been involved in the community response to Covid-19 throughout the pandemic. The video is available to view here: https://youtu.be/JSLmCcjUVG4