Reading council news
Reading council news, newest first: decisions, budgets, council tax, bins and services, each linked to the council's own papers.
Top story
Rivermead Leisure Centre Named Best in South of England
Rivermead won ukactive's Regional Public Centre of the Year for the South of England, beating five finalists from Plymouth to St Albans. What it offers.
More stories
Council
Reading Town Centre 2040 Plan Puts Friar Street First
A partly pedestrianised Friar Street, a play park and a new Station Road are the first picks in Reading's 2040 town centre plan. Comments close 30 November.
Council
Reading Council Must Switch to a Cabinet by May 2027
A new law ends Reading's committee system: from May 2027 a Leader and a cabinet of two to nine councillors will take most decisions. What changes for residents.
Health
Reading Alcohol Deaths at Record 35, Nearly Double England
Reading's alcohol death rate is 25.5 per 100,000, nearly double England's. Just 16 opiate users finished treatment last year, the South East's lowest rate.
Community safety
Reading Hate Crime Helpline: 0800 138 1625, Open 24 Hours
Reading now has a free 24-hour Stop Hate line: call 0800 138 1625 or text 07717 989 025. Who can use it, what it does, and when to call 999 or 101 instead.
The Hexagon
Hexagon Studio Theatre: Roof On, Opens Spring 2027
The Hexagon's new 200-seat Studio Theatre has its roof on and a step-free bridge from Queen's Walk in place. It is due to open in spring 2027.
Health
Live Well Reading: Free Help to Quit Smoking or Lose Weight
Free 12-week coaching to stop smoking, lose weight, get active or drink less, for anyone 16+ who lives, works or has a GP in Reading. How to join.
Community
Reading Small Grants Fund Open: Up to £7,500, Bids by 13 Nov
Reading groups can bid for up to £7,500 from a £150,000 council fund until 13 November, with £250 and £500 micro grants too. Who can apply, and who won last year.
Council
John Madejski Way: Councillors Vote on A33 Rename 7 Oct
Reading councillors decide on 7 October whether part of the A33 becomes John Madejski Way. No ward councillor backed it, and new signs would cost £4,000.
Council
Reading Food Waste Up 16%: Free Caddy Liners in November
Reading households put 721 more tonnes of food in their caddies, saving the council over £70,000. Every home gets free liners in November. What goes in the bin.
Council tax
Reading Council Tax Support: No Forms, and 472 Lose Out
Reading's council tax support would switch to weekly income bands in April 2027: 3,225 claims unchanged, 477 gain, 472 lose. Consultation opens 17 September.
Licensing
Reading Festival Licence: 3am Bar and Thursday Main Stage
Reading Festival can sell alcohol until 3am every night and open the main stage on Thursday. The Wednesday early-entry cap doubles to 40,000.
Transport
Reading 20mph Zones Off Oxford Road: £375k, Vote Thursday
Councillors vote on Thursday on consulting for 20mph zones either side of Oxford Road, funded by £375,000 of developer money. Five more schemes go with them.
Transport
Reading's Road Request Queue: 97 Asks, £1.25m to Spend
A Caversham crossing petitioned for in 2017 tops Reading's 97 outstanding road requests. Councillors set the running order on Thursday, with £550,000 to spend.
Council
Meadway and South Reading Gyms Get £250,000 Refit
Reading Borough Council has spent £250,000 on new Technogym kit at both gyms. Drop-in gym is £10 at South Reading, £9.75 at Meadway, or £7.90 for residents.
Council
Reading Bins Run a Day Late All Week After Lorry Faults
Electrical faults grounded much of Reading's 13 electric bin lorries last week. Now the bank holiday moves every collection a day later, Friday to Saturday.
Council
Reading Post-16 Transport: £330 a Term Charge Proposed
Reading's draft policy would charge £330 a term for post-16 SEND travel, or £175 for low-income households, where it is free now. Comments close on 5 October.
Reading Festival
Reading Festival Road Closures: Drop-Off Is Hills Meadow
There is no drop-off on Richfield Avenue. Hills Meadow car park, RG4 8DH, is the only one for cars. Cow Lane may shut 7am to 3pm on the Monday.
Jobs
Reading claimant count: Battle 6.1%, Caversham Heights 1.5%
Reading's July claimant count is 5,390, or 4.3% of working-age residents. Battle sits at 6.1% and Caversham Heights at 1.5%. All 16 wards ranked.
Homelessness
Tap for Reading extended to 2029 after £7,400 donated
Reading's contactless donation scheme runs to 2029, with £7,400 raised for four homelessness charities. Rough sleeping in the town fell to 43 last autumn.
Roadworks
Reading road closures: 17 roads resurfaced from 17 August
Reading resurfaces 17 main roads from 17 August to 28 September, starting in Caversham. The dates, the overnight closures and the £4m behind the work.
Bins
Reading Christmas Bin Collections 2026/27: What Moves
Reading's 2026 Christmas bin dates are not out yet. Last year every round from Christmas Day moved a day or two, back to normal on 12 January. The full table.