Decision details

The Panel received the Severe Weather report undertaken by a working group of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

The working group had met on several occasions and spoken to a number of Council staff and contractors to understand how the severe weather had affected service areas from across the Council.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were noted:

• That a recommendation be added to the report suggesting that officers look at the possibility of contracts with local plant hires and businesses who had equipment that may be of use during severe weather, to allow access to greater resources during future severe weather events.
• Staff across the departments had worked well and put in extra effort to ensure service delivery where possible during the severe weather. Overall Bracknell Forest Council had coped well during the severe weather. It was agreed that this would be reflected in the conclusion of the working group report.
• Some schools had used a text messaging service to keep parents informed of decisions to open and close the school for the day which had proved successful. It was agreed that recommendation 6.7 of the report would be expanded to include the use of text messaging.

RESOLVED that the report of the Severe Weather report with amendments, be agreed and commended to the Overview and Scrutiny Commission for adoption and for sending formally to the Executive.