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Coordinates: 51°24′37″N 0°50′36″W / 51.4102°N 0.8432°W / 51.4102; -0.8432
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{{Short description|Unitary authority area in Berkshire, England}}
{{About|the local government district of Wokingham, formed in 1974 and given borough status in 2007|the Borough of Wokingham before 1974 and the town within the borough of the same name|Wokingham}}
{{About|the local government district of Wokingham, formed in 1974 and given borough status in 2007|the Borough of Wokingham before 1974 and the town within the borough of the same name|Wokingham}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Borough of Wokingham
| official_name = Borough of Wokingham
| settlement_type = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]]
| settlement_type = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]] and [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]]
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| image2 = The Centre of Twyford - geograph.org.uk - 3372468.jpg
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| shield_link =
| image4 = St Peter's Church - geograph.org.uk - 4170990.jpg
| image_map = Wokingham UK locator map.svg
| image5 = The road into California Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 3012750.jpg
| mapsize = 250px
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| map_alt =
| image_caption = {{ubl|From left to right|Top: [[Wokingham]] [[Wokingham Town Hall|town hall]] |Middle: [[Twyford, Berkshire|Twyford]] village centre and [[Woodley, Berkshire|Woodley]] Coronation Hall |Bottom: [[Earley]] St Peter's Church and the [[California Country Park]] near [[Arborfield Green]]}}
| map_caption = Shown within [[Berkshire]]
| image_shield =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.4102|-0.8432|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| shield_alt =
| subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]]
| shield_link =
| subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| image_map = Wokingham UK locator map.svg
| subdivision_name1 = [[England]]
| mapsize = 250px
| subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| map_alt =
| subdivision_name2 = [[South East England]]
| map_caption = Shown within [[Berkshire]]
| coordinates = {{coord|51.4102|-0.8432|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type3 = [[Ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Berkshire]]
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_type4 = Status
| subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_name4 = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| subdivision_name1 = [[England]]
| established_date1 = 1 April 1974
| subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| seat_type = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name2 = [[South East England]]
| seat = [[Wokingham]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Ceremonial county]]
| government_type = Unitary authority
| subdivision_name3 = [[Berkshire]]
| subdivision_type4 = Status
| governing_body = [[Wokingham Borough Council]]
| subdivision_name4 = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]]
| leader_party = {{English district control|GSS=E06000041}}
| leader_title = Leadership
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| leader_name = Leader & Cabinet
| established_date1 = 1 April 1974
| seat_type = Admin HQ
| leader_title1 = [[List of MPs elected in the 2017 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| seat = [[Wokingham]]
| leader_name1 = [[John Redwood]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]<br>[[Theresa May]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]<br>[[Matt Rodda]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br>[[James Sunderland (politician)|James Sunderland]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]<!-- The borough contains part of the Maidenhead, Reading East and Bracknell constituencies -->
| area_total_km2 = 178.98
| government_type = Unitary authority
| governing_body = [[Wokingham Borough Council]]
| area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E06000041}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_total = {{English district population|GSS=E06000041}}
| leader_party =
| population_as_of = {{United Kingdom statistics year}}
| leader_title = Leadership
| leader_name = Leader & Cabinet
| population_rank = {{English district rank|GSS=E06000041}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| leader_title1 =
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicity
| leader_name1 =
| area_total_km2 = 178.98
| population_blank1 = 88.4% White (83.6% White British)<br /> 7.5% Asian<br /> 2.1% Black British<br /> 2% Mixed Race
| timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E06000041}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| utc_offset = 0
| population_total = 177,500
| timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_rank = {{English district rank|GSS=E06000041}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| population_density_km2 = 992
| blank1_name = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| blank1_info = 00MF (ONS) E06000041 (GSS)
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| blank2_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000041|title=Wokingham Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|SU805685}}
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/}}
| name =
| demographics1_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
}}{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
| 79.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
| 12.9% [[British Asians|Asian]]
| 3.1% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
| 2.4% [[Black British people|Black]]
| 1.6% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
}}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 =
{{Collapsible list
| 44.7% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
| 36.9% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
| 13.6% [[Religion in England|other]]
| 4.8% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
}}
| timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset = 0
| timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| blank_name = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166]]
| blank_info = GB-WOK
| blank1_name = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_info = 00MF (ONS) E06000041 (GSS)
| blank2_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
| blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|SU805685}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/}}
| name =
}}


The '''Borough of Wokingham''' is a [[Districts of England|local government district]] in Berkshire, United Kingdom. It is named after its main town, [[Wokingham]]. Other places in the district include [[Arborfield]], [[Barkham]], [[Charvil]], [[Earley]], [[Finchampstead]], [[Hurst, Berkshire|Hurst]], [[Sonning]], [[Remenham]], [[Ruscombe]], [[Shinfield]], [[Twyford, Berkshire|Twyford]], [[Wargrave]], [[Three Mile Cross]], [[Winnersh]], [[Spencers Wood]] and [[Woodley, Berkshire|Woodley]].
'''Wokingham''', or the '''Borough of Wokingham''', is a [[non-metropolitan district|local government district]] with [[borough status]] in [[Berkshire]], England. Since 1998 [[Wokingham Borough Council|its council]] has been a [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]], having taken on county-level functions when [[Berkshire County Council]] was abolished. The borough is named after its main town, [[Wokingham]]. Other places in the district include [[Arborfield]], [[Barkham]], [[Charvil]], [[Earley]], [[Finchampstead]], [[Hurst, Berkshire|Hurst]], [[Remenham]], [[Ruscombe]], [[Shinfield]], [[Sonning]], [[Spencers Wood]], [[Three Mile Cross]], [[Twyford, Berkshire|Twyford]], [[Wargrave]], [[Winnersh]] and [[Woodley, Berkshire|Woodley]]. The population of the borough is 177,500 according to 2021 census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Berkshire Observatory – Wokingham – Population & Demographics |url=https://wokingham.berkshireobservatory.co.uk/population/#/view-report/63aeddf1d7fc44b8b4dffcd868e84eac/___iaFirstFeature/G3 |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=wokingham.berkshireobservatory.co.uk}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 as '''Wokingham District''', under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], by the merger of the [[Wokingham|Municipal Borough of Wokingham]] and [[Wokingham Rural District]]. It is governed by [[Wokingham Borough Council]] (formerly Wokingham District Council), which has been a [[unitary authority]] since 1 April 1998, following the abolition of Berkshire County Council under the [[Banham Review]]. The district was granted [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in 2007, following a petition to the Queen.<ref>"[http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/Easysite/lib/serveDocument.asp?doc=82479&pgid=38824&assetID=14415 Annual Monitoring Report December 2007]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}", p. 4 bottom, Wokingham Borough Council</ref>
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 as '''Wokingham District''', under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], by the merger of the [[Wokingham|Municipal Borough of Wokingham]] and [[Wokingham Rural District]]. It is governed by [[Wokingham Borough Council]] (formerly Wokingham District Council), which has been a [[unitary authority]] since 1 April 1998, following the abolition of Berkshire County Council under the [[Banham Review]].<ref>Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996 (SI 1996/1879), [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1879/article/3/made art.3]</ref> The district was granted [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in 2007, following a petition to the Queen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council-meetings-democracy/news/borough-status-update|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303180824/http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council-meetings-democracy/news/borough-status-update|archivedate=3 March 2007|title=Borough status Update|publisher=Wokingham District Council|accessdate=20 November 2024}}</ref>


==Government==
==Geography==
Elevations range between 30 and 70 metres above sea level except higher in about 5% of the borough. The highest is an escarpment containing parts of the rural and wooded northern area, the hinterland of three Thames-side villages, facing the 30-mile long [[Chiltern Hills|Chilterns]] AONB, west and north.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chilternsaonb.org/explore-enjoy/interactive-map.html |title=The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - explore - enjoy. Retrieved 2015-01-28 |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206021145/http://www.chilternsaonb.org/explore-enjoy/interactive-map.html |archive-date=6 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> A geological part of that range of hills, Bowsey Hill reaches 137m, in Wargrave civil parish, {{convert|1|mi}} from the river.<ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/showmap.php?gridref=SU778832 Geograph.org.uk map] retrieved 2015-01-28</ref>
The local authority is Wokingham Borough Council. It is a unitary authority, being a district council (but designated a borough council) also exercising the functions of a county council.<ref>Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996 (SI 1996/1879), [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1879/article/3/made art.3]</ref>


Approximately a right-angled triangle, the borough is long north to south. It uses as its longest edge the course of the [[River Loddon|Loddon]] and [[River Thames|Thames]] along its north-west, with a similarly salient-containing eastern boundary and an almost straight southern boundary. Clockwise the boundaries are approximately 10, 8 and 5 miles on a direct path from point to point. The southern boundary is approximately the [[Roman road from London to Bath]] through a highly coniferous [[Swinley Forest]] which sits in geology on the naturally acidic, [[Bagshot Formation]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Wokingham}}


The whole borough is divided into [[civil parish]]es. The parish councils of Wokingham, Earley and Woodley have officially declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style 'town council'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parish council contact details |url=https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?bcr=1 |website=Wokingham Borough Council |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref> Villages include Arborfield, Barkham, Charvil, Finchampstead, Hurst, Sonning, Remenham, Ruscombe, Shinfield, Twyford, Wargrave, Three Mile Cross, Winnersh, Spencers Wood. Two villages have a wide range of small retail and visitor facilities: Wargrave and Twyford. In major employment areas of trading and manufacturing Winnersh and Finchampstead are prominent. The village of Crowthorne is shared between Wokingham and the neighbouring borough of Bracknell Forest.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
State-funded schools in the Borough of Wokingham include nine [[secondary school]]s, two [[special school]]s and numerous [[primary school]]s. There are also a number of [[Independent school (United Kingdom)|independent schools]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}


==Governance==
[[Bracknell and Wokingham College]] is the main [[Further education|further]] and [[adult education]] provider for the borough, just outside the borough its headquarters is in [[Bracknell]]. The Borough's closest [[higher education]] provider is the main [[Whiteknights Park]] campus of the [[University of Reading]] immediately north-west,{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} most of which in fact falls within the Wokingham Borough boundary.
{{main|Wokingham Borough Council}}
[[File:Wokingham Civic Offices.jpg|thumb|Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham]]
The local authority is Wokingham Borough Council, which has its headquarters at Shute End in Wokingham.<ref>{{cite web |title=Find the help you need |url=https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/find-help-you-need |website=Wokingham Borough Council |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref>


==Geography==
==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Wokingham}}
Elevations range between 30 and 70 metres above sea level except higher in about 5% of the borough. The highest is an escarpment containing parts of the rural and wooded northern area, the hinterland of three Thames-side villages, facing the 30-mile long [[Chiltern Hills|Chilterns]] AONB, west and north.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chilternsaonb.org/explore-enjoy/interactive-map.html# |title=The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - explore - enjoy. Retrieved 2015-01-28 |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206021145/http://www.chilternsaonb.org/explore-enjoy/interactive-map.html# |archive-date=6 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> A geological part of that range of hills, Bowsey Hill reaches 137m, in Wargrave civil parish, {{convert|1|mi}} from the river.<ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/showmap.php?gridref=SU778832 Geograph.org.uk map] retrieved 2015-01-28</ref>


State-funded schools in the borough include nine [[secondary school]]s, two [[special school]]s and numerous [[primary school]]s. There are also a number of [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private schools]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
Approximately a right-angled triangle, the borough is long north to south. It uses as its longest edge the course of the [[River Loddon|Loddon]] and [[River Thames|Thames]] along its north-west, with a similarly salient-containing eastern boundary and an almost straight southern boundary. Clockwise the boundaries are approximately 10, 8 and 5 miles on a direct path from point to point. The southern boundary is approximately the [[Roman road from London to Bath]] through a highly coniferous [[Swinley Forest]] which sits in geology on the naturally acidic, [[Bagshot Formation]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}


[[Bracknell and Wokingham College]] is the main [[Further education|further]] and [[adult education]] provider for the borough, just outside the borough its headquarters is in [[Bracknell]]. The Borough's closest [[higher education]] provider is the main [[Whiteknights Park]] campus of the [[University of Reading]] immediately north-west,{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} most of which falls within the Wokingham Borough boundary.
The town in the district is Wokingham. The villages are Arborfield, Barkham, Charvil, Earley, Finchampstead, Hurst, Sonning, Remenham, Ruscombe, Shinfield, Twyford, Wargrave, Three Mile Cross, Winnersh, Spencers Wood and Woodley. Two villages have a wide range of small retail and visitor facilities: Wargrave and Twyford. In major employment areas of trading and manufacturing Winnersh and Finchampstead are prominent. The village of Crowthorne is shared between Wokingham and the neighbouring borough of Bracknell Forest.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}


==Home ownership==
==Home ownership==
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Excluding lower-tier districts, Central Government has classified Wokingham as the least needy Local Authority. Government funding is about £120 per head per year. This is the lowest among the combined category of county councils and unitary authorities, the basis on which it is overall assessed, and compares with over £1000 per head in others such as the [[London Borough of Hackney]].<ref>[[More or Less (radio programme)|More or Less]], Radio 4 programme. Date needed.</ref>
Excluding lower-tier districts, Central Government has classified Wokingham as the least needy Local Authority. Government funding is about £120 per head per year. This is the lowest among the combined category of county councils and unitary authorities, the basis on which it is overall assessed, and compares with over £1000 per head in others such as the [[London Borough of Hackney]].<ref>[[More or Less (radio programme)|More or Less]], Radio 4 programme. Date needed.</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" id="toc" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; width: 40%; font-size: 90%;" cellspacing="5"
!colspan=6|Tenure in Berkshire compared<ref name=ons>{{Cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/# |title=Office for National Statistics |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/# |archive-date=11 February 2003 |url-status=live}}</ref>
!colspan=6|Tenure in Berkshire compared<ref name=ons>{{Cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |title=Office for National Statistics |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |archive-date=11 February 2003 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|''Unitary Authority''||''Owned''||''Owned with a loan''||''Socially rented''||''Privately rented''||''Other''
|''Unitary Authority''||''Owned''||''Owned with a loan''||''Socially rented''||''Privately rented''||''Other''
Line 106: Line 140:
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Wokingham.
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Wokingham.


{{Expand list|date=June 2020}}
{{Incomplete list|date=June 2020}}


===Individuals===
===Individuals===
* [[Alderman]] Stanley Leonard Bowyer: 30 January 1973.
* Stanley Leonard Bowyer: 30 January 1973.
* Mr. Leonard Goddard Smalley: 30 January 1973.
* Leonard Goddard Smalley: 30 January 1973.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wokingham-tc.gov.uk/museum/document/WTH202|title = Freedom of the Borough for Bowyer and Smalley · Wokingham's Virtual Museum}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wokingham-tc.gov.uk/museum/document/WTH202|title = Freedom of the Borough for Bowyer and Smalley · Wokingham's Virtual Museum}}</ref>


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[[Category:Districts of Berkshire]]
[[Category:Districts of Berkshire]]
[[Category:Local authorities adjoining the River Thames]]
[[Category:Local authorities adjoining the River Thames]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]

Latest revision as of 18:31, 20 November 2024

This article is about the local government district of Wokingham, formed in 1974 and given borough status in 2007. For the Borough of Wokingham before 1974 and the town within the borough of the same name, see Wokingham.

Borough of Wokingham
Unitary authority and Borough
Shown within Berkshire
Shown within Berkshire
Coordinates: 51°24′37″N 0°50′36″W / 51.4102°N 0.8432°W / 51.4102; -0.8432
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Ceremonial countyBerkshire
StatusUnitary authority
Incorporated1 April 1974
Admin HQWokingham
Government
 • TypeUnitary authority
 • BodyWokingham Borough Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet
Area
 • Total
69.10 sq mi (178.98 km2)
 • Rank152nd (of 296)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
177,500
 • Rank115th (of 296)
 • Density2,570/sq mi (992/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166GB-WOK
ONS code00MF (ONS) E06000041 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSU805685
Websitewww.wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham, or the Borough of Wokingham, is a local government district with borough status in Berkshire, England. Since 1998 its council has been a unitary authority, having taken on county-level functions when Berkshire County Council was abolished. The borough is named after its main town, Wokingham. Other places in the district include Arborfield, Barkham, Charvil, Earley, Finchampstead, Hurst, Remenham, Ruscombe, Shinfield, Sonning, Spencers Wood, Three Mile Cross, Twyford, Wargrave, Winnersh and Woodley. The population of the borough is 177,500 according to 2021 census.[2]

History

[edit]

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 as Wokingham District, under the Local Government Act 1972, by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Wokingham and Wokingham Rural District. It is governed by Wokingham Borough Council (formerly Wokingham District Council), which has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1998, following the abolition of Berkshire County Council under the Banham Review.[3] The district was granted borough status in 2007, following a petition to the Queen.[4]

Geography

[edit]

Elevations range between 30 and 70 metres above sea level except higher in about 5% of the borough. The highest is an escarpment containing parts of the rural and wooded northern area, the hinterland of three Thames-side villages, facing the 30-mile long Chilterns AONB, west and north.[5] A geological part of that range of hills, Bowsey Hill reaches 137m, in Wargrave civil parish, 1 mile (1.6 km) from the river.[6]

Approximately a right-angled triangle, the borough is long north to south. It uses as its longest edge the course of the Loddon and Thames along its north-west, with a similarly salient-containing eastern boundary and an almost straight southern boundary. Clockwise the boundaries are approximately 10, 8 and 5 miles on a direct path from point to point. The southern boundary is approximately the Roman road from London to Bath through a highly coniferous Swinley Forest which sits in geology on the naturally acidic, Bagshot Formation.[citation needed]

The whole borough is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils of Wokingham, Earley and Woodley have officially declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style 'town council'.[7] Villages include Arborfield, Barkham, Charvil, Finchampstead, Hurst, Sonning, Remenham, Ruscombe, Shinfield, Twyford, Wargrave, Three Mile Cross, Winnersh, Spencers Wood. Two villages have a wide range of small retail and visitor facilities: Wargrave and Twyford. In major employment areas of trading and manufacturing Winnersh and Finchampstead are prominent. The village of Crowthorne is shared between Wokingham and the neighbouring borough of Bracknell Forest.[citation needed]

Governance

[edit]
Main article: Wokingham Borough Council
Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham

The local authority is Wokingham Borough Council, which has its headquarters at Shute End in Wokingham.[8]

Education

[edit]
See also: List of schools in Wokingham

State-funded schools in the borough include nine secondary schools, two special schools and numerous primary schools. There are also a number of private schools.[citation needed]

Bracknell and Wokingham College is the main further and adult education provider for the borough, just outside the borough its headquarters is in Bracknell. The Borough's closest higher education provider is the main Whiteknights Park campus of the University of Reading immediately north-west,[citation needed] most of which falls within the Wokingham Borough boundary.

Home ownership

[edit]

The borough has the highest proportion of home ownership of the six local authorities in Berkshire: combining the social (housing association and local authority provided) and private (private landlord) rented sectors, Slough's returns recorded in 2011 that its rented sector comprised 46% of its housing, whereas 18% of Wokingham's residents rented their homes.[citation needed]

Excluding lower-tier districts, Central Government has classified Wokingham as the least needy Local Authority. Government funding is about £120 per head per year. This is the lowest among the combined category of county councils and unitary authorities, the basis on which it is overall assessed, and compares with over £1000 per head in others such as the London Borough of Hackney.[9]

Tenure in Berkshire compared[10]
Unitary Authority Owned Owned with a loan Socially rented Privately rented Other
Wokingham 36% 45% 7% 11% 1%
Bracknell Forest 25% 44% 17% 13% 1%
Reading 23% 33% 17% 27% 1%
Slough 19% 34% 21% 25% 1%
West Berkshire 32% 39% 14% 14% 2%
Windsor and Maidenhead 33% 36% 13% 16% 2%

Freedom of the Borough

[edit]

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Wokingham.

Individuals

[edit]
  • Stanley Leonard Bowyer: 30 January 1973.
  • Leonard Goddard Smalley: 30 January 1973.

[11]

Military Units

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Wokingham Local Authority (E06000041)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Berkshire Observatory – Wokingham – Population & Demographics". wokingham.berkshireobservatory.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. ^ Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996 (SI 1996/1879), art.3
  4. ^ "Borough status Update". Wokingham District Council. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. ^ "The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - explore - enjoy. Retrieved 2015-01-28". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  6. ^ Geograph.org.uk map retrieved 2015-01-28
  7. ^ "Parish council contact details". Wokingham Borough Council. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Find the help you need". Wokingham Borough Council. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  9. ^ More or Less, Radio 4 programme. Date needed.
  10. ^ "Office for National Statistics". Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Freedom of the Borough for Bowyer and Smalley · Wokingham's Virtual Museum".
  12. ^ Vashisht, Rahul (15 June 2015). "REME soldiers march through Wokingham for the last time".
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