Answering to you
ListenYour council – answering to you
Your council is made up of councillors elected by you to serve you. It’s important that we can answer to you about our services and how we spend your money.
This page explains the different ways in which this council answers to you - either directly or through other watchdogs - and takes responsibility for what it does. It also points the way to more information.
We are here to work in the best interests of everyone who lives, works and learns in Bracknell Forest. You can raise concerns about services in the most direct way: by approaching your elected ward councillor.
Click here to find the people who represent you.
Included are dates for all the committee and council meetings which you can come to, information about the way councillors are responsible for different services and how senior councillors have to answer to the full council for the decisions they make. The council leader is elected every year by his/her fellow councillors and he/she is also answerable to the full council.
Information about elections and the annual Local Democracy Week explain how you can change things and challenge them if you don’t like the way the council is run.
A public participation scheme also exists so you can go to a council meeting to ask councillors a direct question about an issue that’s important to you. Further information can be found here.
Bracknell Forest Council aims to be open and transparent on all matters and any information you need about us can usually be provided quickly and easily by calling our central customer service number 01344 352000. However, you also have the right to formally request information from us under the Freedom of Information Act, although this can be a slow and costly route.
You can also make comments, pay compliments or make complaints in a number of ways.
The council regularly asks residents their views and opinions on future plans and proposals. All our current consultations can be found here.
The council’s Overview & Scrutiny system also exists to check that decision makers and the local authority’s partners, such as the police and local health services, are doing their best for the community. Their meetings are open to the public and you can ask the team to investigate local issues.
For an independent overview of local public services the Government’s One Place website offers detailed information about how well Bracknell Forest Council works with its partners to improve life in the borough and how it spends its money.
There are other public watchdogs which hold your council to account. You can approach them for more information or to raise concerns about many aspects of council services:
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